Former NFL punter Kasey Redfern has died at just 35 years old following a devastating battle with brain cancer, weeks after his wife shared an emotional update revealing that his health had taken a heartbreaking turn.
Redfern, who spent time with seven NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons, died Tuesday, October 13, after battling a cancerous brain tumor and central nervous system lymphoma since 2023.
His death has left his wife, Lauryl, and their two young sons, Ollie and Logan, facing an unimaginable loss.
Just weeks earlier, on what should have been a joyful celebration of Redfern’s 35th birthday, Lauryl revealed that doctors had reached a difficult decision about his treatment.
The family was transitioning him into hospice care.
“Happy 35th birthday to my man, the love of my life, Kase Face!” she wrote in a September 26 Facebook post.
But the message quickly turned heartbreaking as she explained how dramatically her husband’s condition had deteriorated.
According to Lauryl, Redfern had experienced repeated falls, significant short-term memory problems, vomiting and other troubling symptoms over the preceding weeks.
Doctors believed some of those difficulties were connected to neurotoxicity associated with the extensive treatments he had received during his cancer battle.
Lauryl explained that continuing aggressive treatment was no longer considered appropriate because of the toll it had taken on his body.
“His poor brain has had all it can take treatment wise,” she wrote, explaining that the family wanted to prioritize his comfort and quality of life.
The decision to begin hospice care was especially difficult because Redfern was still at home with his loved ones.
Lauryl said the additional support would allow her to spend more meaningful time with her husband rather than having to manage every aspect of his daily care.
Despite the devastating circumstances, she continued expressing hope through her Christian faith.
The family had been praying for a miracle, but Lauryl also acknowledged that they might soon have to say goodbye.
She spoke about finding peace in her belief that her husband would eventually be free from pain and suffering.
Less than three weeks later, Redfern died.
News of his passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from former teammates, coaches and friends who remembered him as much for his character as his football career.
Texas Tech assistant coach Rob Greene, who had been Redfern’s college roommate, described him as a “great man, husband, father, and friend.”
Greene’s tribute reflected the close friendships Redfern developed throughout his years in football.
Another tribute came from Mike Smith, a member of the Wofford football community, who remembered the former punter as humble, appreciative and generous with his time.
“Wofford lost a true warrior and a good man in Kasey Redfern,” Smith wrote.
He recalled helping Redfern warm up before games and said the young athlete never displayed the arrogance or sense of entitlement sometimes associated with professional sports.
Instead, Smith remembered someone who treated others with kindness and gratitude.
Long before reaching the NFL, Redfern had established himself as a talented multi-sport athlete in his hometown of Jamestown, North Carolina.
He attended Ragsdale High School, where he excelled in football and also played soccer and participated in swimming.
He went on to attend Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, playing for the Terriers from 2010 through 2013.
During his college career, Redfern handled punting, kicking and kickoff responsibilities, developing the versatility that eventually helped him attract attention from NFL teams.
Although he was not selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him as an undrafted free agent.
That opportunity began a professional football journey that would take him through several organizations.
Over the following years, he spent time with the San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons.
His regular-season NFL debut came in September 2017 with the Detroit Lions.
During the team’s season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Redfern recorded a 50-yard punt.
Unfortunately, the appearance ended with a serious knee injury after a mishandled snap forced him to attempt a run.
The injury ended his season and presented another major obstacle in his football career.
But Redfern worked his way back into professional football.
In 2019, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys before later joining the Atlanta Falcons.
He spent several weeks on Atlanta’s active roster that October and finished his NFL career having appeared in four regular-season games.
Although his professional playing time was limited, making it to the NFL after going undrafted was an achievement that reflected years of work and persistence.
Following his football career, Redfern remained connected to the sport and the communities that had supported him.
Then, in 2023, his life changed dramatically when doctors diagnosed him with a cancerous brain tumor and central nervous system lymphoma.
Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a rare form of cancer that affects lymphatic cells in the brain, spinal cord or surrounding tissues.
Treatment can involve chemotherapy and other intensive therapies, depending on the disease and the patient’s condition.
Redfern underwent years of treatment as his family supported him through the difficult journey.
His wife occasionally shared updates about his condition, offering glimpses into both the challenges of his illness and the faith that helped sustain their family.
By September 2026, however, his symptoms had worsened significantly.
Lauryl’s emotional birthday message revealed just how much the family had endured and how difficult the decision to transition into hospice care had been.
Through it all, her focus remained on making sure her husband was comfortable and surrounded by love.
For the couple’s sons, Ollie and Logan, the loss means growing up without their father, a reality that has made the news especially painful for those close to the family.
Friends and former teammates have continued remembering Redfern not simply as a professional athlete, but as a devoted father, loving husband and man whose faith remained important throughout his illness.
His football career took him across the country and gave him opportunities many athletes only dream of experiencing.
But the tributes following his death reveal a legacy extending far beyond the field.
Kasey Redfern was just 35 years old, leaving behind a family who stood beside him through years of treatment and a community mourning the loss of a man remembered for his determination, kindness and love for those closest to him.
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