Ahead of Bill Belichick’s ACC debut against the Clemson Tigers, Chapel Hill pours out an emotional tribute to one of its departed wide receivers in a heartfelt gesture. Just yesterday, the Tar Heels had celebrated his birthday. “Happy Heavenly Birthday, my friend,” UNC coach Mack Brown wrote. “You changed many lives, including mine. We love and miss you very much!” And today, a beautiful gesture is winning over the hearts of college football fans, which will surely get you teary-eyed.

Last season, Tylee Craft, who was 23 years old, passed away, battling cancer. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Cries of #TyleeStrong rallied strongly, but he unfortunately passed away on October 23. “This young man fought so hard for his two and a half years,” North Carolina football coach Mack Brown said, per ESPN. He was a source of inspiration for the UNC community. Bearing all the pain, he was present for his roster, becoming a UNC graduate before he was laid to rest.

Now, in his remembrance, UNC has rolled out classics for the game, ahead of their ACC debut. And wide receiver Jordan Shipp, who wears No. #1, will shed his jersey and honor Craft’s legacy. “Jordan Shipp will be wearing Tylee Craft’s #13 jersey Saturday,” reporter Michael Koh shared the news. Shipp’s tattoo of Tylee’s jersey No. 13 is a permanent reminder of the teammate they lost to cancer, paired with the words, “Tylee Strong.” Last season, it was wide receiver J.J. Jones, who honored Craft by wearing his jersey against Georgia Tech.

On Wednesday, UNC released a special 20-minute video in memory of Craft. It featured interview bytes of Tylee, the roster, and the coaches. Shipp and Tylee shared a strong bond. “I would thank Tylee just for being such a fighter,” said an emotional Shipp on film. ” Just to see somebody that young and that talented go through what he was going through, that’s very emotional for a lot of us.”

Back in 2022, Tylee experienced crippling back pain. He was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with Stage 4 large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. He was immediately put on chemotherapy and immunotherapy. His family was told by the doctors that he didn’t have much time left. But Tylee was strong; he smiled through all the pain. “The doctors told us he outlived what he should’ve,” Brown added. “And he did it with the spirit, he did it with a smile on his face, he didn’t miss a meeting, he didn’t miss practice, he coached these other incredible young people.”

Tylee Craft is an inspiration for the UNC community

Before Tylee Craft passed away, he had shared his advice with fellow athletes who might be going through similar struggles. “I would just say to have fun,” he said on the ‘Voices for Victory’ podcast in 2022.  “That’s always gonna be the main thing. Always have fun, stay positive. Because you never know what can happen,” he concluded. That very year, he was honored with the Disney Spirit Award, awarded to college football’s most inspirational individual or team.

And he made an impact on other people. In April, Craft was posthumously honored with the inaugural Eric Montross Public Service Award. The award celebrates the individual for creating awareness regarding lung cancer across North Carolina. The prestigious honor was accepted by his mother, September.

The cherished individual contributed to Team Draft, the White Ribbon Project, LiveLung, and the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative. His words, “Just keep swinging at the end of the day,” are a source of inspiration to many.