Tylee Craft dies at 23: Former WR at UNC suffered rare form of lung cancer, honored by team on Saturday

Tylee Craft, a former wide receiver for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team and graduate student at the University of North Carolina, died Saturday morning after a two year battle against a rare form of lung cancer. He was 23.

Craft, a four-star recruit out of Sumter High School in South Carolina who played 11 games for the Tar Heels in 2020 and 2021, was diagnosed with stage four large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer, in March 2022. Craft, who missed his entire junior and senior seasons, had spent the past week in hospital, according to UNC coach Mack Brown.

Craft had medically retired from football in July, but he had remained active with the team as a student coach. Craft was honored by UNC during the team’s loss to Georgia Tech on Saturday, with Brown embracing Craft’s mother throughout a two-minute tribute to her son, before giving way to an on-field tribute that lasted 13 seconds — the number that Craft had worn.

“It is with love and fond memories that we announce Tylee Craft has begun his journey on the other side,” read a statement by the team. “Tylee meant so much to so many and affected us in ways we’ll always be thankful for. He was 1-of-1 and, while he won’t be with us in body, he’ll be watching over us with his endearing smile and endless positivity. 

“On behalf of his family and our program, we sincerely thank everyone who supported Tylee during his battle with cancer. It means more than you know. With love and affection, #TyleeStrongForever”

The UNC men’s basketball team also honored Craft on Saturday, as every player at Dean Smith Center wore a “CRAFT 13” shirt during warmups prior to its Blue-White scrimmage. A moment of silence in Craft’s memory was held prior to the scrimmage itself.

Craft, who played as a receiver and on special teams for UNC, graduated this past May with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science/sports administration before enrolling in graduate classes towards earning his master’s degree. In 2022, Craft had been honored with the Disney Spirit Award, presented annually to college football’s most inspirational individual or team.