North Carolina football fans were greeted with a touching gesture by EA Sports in the most recent update for “College Football 25.”
As made aware by former Tar Heels coach Mack Brown, the company added former Tar Heels wide receiver Tylee Craft to the video game. Craft died in October after a battle with lung cancer.
“A big thank you to (EA Sports) for adding Tylee Craft to the video game in their recent update. Very kind of them to do that for his family and friends,” Brown wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Craft died on Oct. 12, 2024 at the age of 23 after a multi-year battle with Stage 4 lung cancer. The Sumter, South Carolina native was diagnosed on March 14, 2022. He did not appear in a game for UNC following his sophomore season in 2021.
UNC honored Craft in several ways throughout the season, including keeping his locker in the Tar Heels locker room. Tar Heels wide receiver J.J. Jones wore Craft’s No. 13 jersey against Georgia Tech on Oct. 12, the day of Craft’s passing. Jones scored a touchdown in UNC’s 41-34 loss.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Brown and the Tar Heels additionally honored Craft during the team’s Senior Day ceremony on Nov. 30.
“This young man fought so hard for his two and a half years, the doctors told us he outlived what he should’ve,” Brown said after the game vs. Georgia Tech, as previously reported by The Fayetteville Observer. “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 young people. I mean, he’s just an incredible young person.”
Craft earned the Disney Spirit Award on ESPN’s College Football Awards in 2022, and was one of five college athletes named to the Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team that year as well. He appeared in 11 total games in his two years at UNC at wide receiver and on special teams.
As part of the game, Tar Heels fans can now play with Craft on “College Football 25” for eternity.
