Kasey Redfern has died at the age of 35 after a debilitating battle with cancer, bringing a heartbreaking end to the story of a former NFL punter whose career briefly reached the league before illness took over.
Redfern’s NFL journey included four appearances in games and stops with several teams, but the wider focus in recent months had been on his health. In 2023, he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and CNS lymphoma, and by September 26 his wife, Lauryl, said he had been transferred into hospice care on his 35th birthday.
Lauryl described a sharp decline
Lauryl’s update on September 26 painted a painful picture of Redfern’s condition. In her message, she said he had been dealing with “falls, extreme decline in short term memory, random throwing up, and some other things,” while also noting that his decline was linked to “neurotoxicity from all of the treatments he’s had over the last 3.5 years.”
She also marked the day with a birthday message, writing: “Happy 35th birthday to my man, the love of my life, Kase Face!” It was a reminder that even in the middle of the worst kind of news, the family was still holding on to moments of love and recognition.
A brief NFL career, then a long fight
Redfern entered the NFL in 2014 when he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent from Wofford College. He later debuted with the Detroit Lions in 2017, and his career ultimately included four appearances.
He also had time with six other NFL teams, but his story in recent years was defined far more by his fight for his health than by football. Lauryl’s words made clear how serious that battle had become, and how quickly his condition had changed.
In the same post, she wrote: “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.” It was a deeply personal reflection, and one that underscored just how difficult the final stages of his illness had become.
For those who followed his career, Redfern will be remembered as a former NFL player who fought through a long and severe illness with the support of his family. For Lauryl and those closest to him, the loss is far more immediate and personal than any football record could capture.
