Kasey Redfern lived by a simple rule: “Just keep persevering.” It carried him through a journeyman NFL career, with one cut after another. It carried him through his toughest fight, a three-year battle with brain cancer that ended this week.
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Redfern died on October 13, 2026. He was diagnosed with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma in his brain in 2023 and underwent treatment for more than three years.
“He shouldn’t have lived as long as he did but he fought an incredible fight. He smiled the whole way through, never questioned why and always knew God had a purpose for this, having great hope that his miracle would be healing on Earth,” his wife, Lauryl, told the California Post.
The first sign came in 2023, when Redfern felt weakness on his right side and went in for a full-body checkup. Doctors suspected something neurological, Lauryl explained, and a CT scan confirmed a tumor in his brain.
For a punter who had stepped away from the league just a few years earlier, the news could have been devastating. But as Lauryl shared on the Where the Light Bends podcast earlier this year, Kasey wasn’t fazed.
“When Kasey was first diagnosed, he was at complete peace. Like, I’m in the corner of the room and I’m in tears immediately and Kasey just has this peace about him.”
That calm was nothing new. Redfern’s love for football had carried him through years of fighting for a spot in the league. The Jamestown native made his way through Wofford and signed with the Jaguars, then had stints with the San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Atlanta Falcons.
When he signed with the Lions, he explained his mindset to reporters.
“My mindset is, I’m not letting anything change. Every year I’ve been out, I’ve been focused on getting better and being the guy wherever I can and taking this opportunity to grow from such great vets I have around me and such great coaches… That creates a better character. It’s been tough, but I just can’t give up. It’s something I feel called to do. I keep striving, keep pushing – keep working.”
Even after he tore his ACL and MCL and partially tore his patellar tendon, he kept chasing the dream, moving on to Dallas and then Atlanta before being waived. That same love for the game stayed with him through his cancer fight. On the Where the Light Bends podcast, Redfern was asked about an accomplishment he was proud of.
“Made it to the NFL from a small school at Wofford when I got told no I don’t even know how many times,” he said.
He held on to that pride even as his condition worsened in 2026, when his family faced a difficult decision. In September, on his 35th birthday, Lauryl shared the news on Facebook.
“Happy 35th birthday to my man, the love of my life, Kase Face!” she wrote. “It’s been a whirlwind of a week- one that has been really hard and full of emotional and mental overwhelm. Kasey had his appointment with Dr. Fanning on Wednesday, and our conversation wasn’t easy. We’ve decided to move toward hospice care for Kasey.
“His poor brain has had all it can take, treatment-wise, so we want to make sure that he can be as comfortable as possible. As our NP pointed out, this will also help me to be able to love on him more/better and not have to do all of the caretaking as well.”
Lauryl said Redfern was still at home when she shared the news, and the family continued to hold on to hope while preparing for what lay ahead. The couple has two sons, Ollie and Logan, and family life remained at the center of Lauryl’s updates throughout his illness.
As the family mourns his passing, tributes are pouring in from across the sports world.
“🙏 It just keeps happening. 🙏 #PraysForKaseyRedfern,” former WWE star Val Venis posted on X. His words were brief, but they captured the grief surrounding Redfern’s loss after his long health battle.
Emmy Award-winning television journalist Laura Lucio posted a simple farewell: “RIP 🙏🏼🌷.”
Former NFL head coach Gregg Williams also shared a prayer emoji, joining others who offered condolences to the family.
Through injuries, roster changes, and hard-won opportunities, Kasey Redfern lived out a simple message: don’t give up, even when the odds are stacked against you.
Rest in peace, Kasey.