Former NFL punter Kasey Redfern, who played for the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons, has died at just 35 years old following a lengthy battle with brain cancer.
The father of two passed away Tuesday, October 13, less than three weeks after his wife revealed that his condition had deteriorated and he had entered hospice care.
Redfern was diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma, a rare form of cancer affecting the brain and spinal cord, in April 2023. He spent the next three and a half years undergoing treatment while his family shared updates about his health and the challenges they faced.
On September 26, his 35th birthday, his wife, Lauryl, posted an emotional message announcing that they had made the difficult decision to transition him into hospice care.
“Happy 35th birthday to my man, the love of my life, Kase Face!” she wrote.
Lauryl explained that her husband had experienced a significant decline in the preceding weeks, including frequent falls, worsening short-term memory and episodes of vomiting.
She said doctors believed some of his symptoms were related to neurotoxicity, a complication that can occur when certain cancer treatments affect the nervous system.
Despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Lauryl expressed her family’s faith and hope as they prepared for an uncertain future.
“We know that healing will take place regardless of the outcome, but if he makes it to Heaven soon, he will have it better than the rest of us,” she wrote.
Following Redfern’s death, his wife remembered his determination and positive attitude throughout his illness.
“He shouldn’t have lived as long as he did,” Lauryl told the California Post. “But he fought an incredible fight.”
She said he continued smiling through his treatments and remained devoted to his faith even as his health declined.
Born in Jamestown, North Carolina, Redfern attended Ragsdale High School before continuing his football career at Wofford College in South Carolina.
At Wofford, he played both kicker and punter, developing the skills that eventually earned him an opportunity in professional football.
Although he was not selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, Redfern signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent.
Over the next several years, he spent time with seven NFL organizations, including the San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons.
His first regular-season appearance came with Detroit in September 2017, but the milestone ended painfully.
During the Lions’ season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Redfern suffered serious knee injuries, including torn ligaments, while attempting to advance a mishandled punt snap.
The injuries ended his season after just one game.
Redfern eventually returned to the NFL with Atlanta in 2019, appearing in three regular-season games. Across his professional career, he played in four NFL games.
Although his time on the field was limited, Redfern made a lasting impression on those who knew him.
Following news of his death, former college roommate and fellow football player Rob Greene, now a coach at Texas Tech, remembered him as a devoted family man and friend.
Greene described Redfern as a great husband, father and friend whose character extended far beyond football.
Redfern’s death also highlights the challenges of primary central nervous system lymphoma, an uncommon cancer that develops in the brain, spinal cord or tissues surrounding the central nervous system.
Treatment can involve chemotherapy and other intensive therapies. While some patients respond well, the disease can be difficult to treat, and its effects vary significantly from person to person.
For Redfern, the illness eventually brought an end to a life that had included professional football, marriage and raising a young family.
He is survived by his wife, Lauryl, and their two sons, Logan and Ollie.