The North Carolina Tar Heels football program is mourning the loss of former player Tylee Craft, who passed away Saturday morning at the age of 23 after a courageous battle with a rare form of lung cancer, The Associated Press reports.
Head Coach Mack Brown announced the heartbreaking news during his postgame press conference following the Tar Heels’ loss to Georgia Tech.
Craft was diagnosed with the rare lung cancer in March 2022, but his determination to remain involved with the program was unwavering. He continued to attend practices and meetings, serving as a source of inspiration for his teammates, according to the report.
Saturday’s game, which was the team’s annual Cancer Awareness Game, was a special tribute to Craft. Friends and family members wearing shirts bearing his name and number were recognized on the field, while wide receiver J.J. Jones wore Craft’s jersey with his No. 13 and last name during the game.
Brown revealed that he learned of Craft’s passing after the game, but sensed something was amiss following an emotional hug with Craft’s mother at the end of the first quarter.
UNC football released a statement on social media confirming Craft’s passing, followed by a moving tribute video. The men’s basketball team also honored Craft by wearing shirts bearing his name and number during their intrasquad scrimmage at the Smith Center, and held a moment of silence before the scrimmage.
Craft, a native of Sumter, South Carolina, played in seven games as a true freshman in 2020, and four games in 2021 before his diagnosis.
