Devon Wylie, a former NFL wide receiver, has died at the age of 35.
Wylie played collegiate football at Fresno State from 2007-2011 and was drafted in the 4th round by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012.
He also appeared in multiple games with the Tennessee Titans.
Forever a Bulldog.
Our thoughts are with the Wylie family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/DxsPuonou0
— Fresno State Football (@FresnoStateFB) November 14, 2023
No cause of death was given.
The 2012 fourth-round pick of the Chiefs, WR Devon Wylie, has passed away at just 35 years old.
My condolences are with his family🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/mf5M6p1903
— Mackenzie Webb (@kenziewebbsport) November 15, 2023
Tragic: Former #Chiefs and #Titans return man Devon Wylie has died at the tragic young age of 35.
Wylie was a former All-American at Fresno State and was beloved by many.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/hLWPMLXnmg
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 15, 2023
KCRA 3 reports:
Rick Sutter, a Granite Bay football staff member who knew Wylie, said he was an inspiration on and off the field.
“He was a God-loving man, he was funny, he was a team player, he was loved by all of his coaches and by all his players. He was an inspiration,” Sutter said.
Fresno State’s football program shared a condolence message on X, formerly known as Twitter, that said their thoughts were with Wylie’s family.
Television and radio host Wayne Allyn Root noted the continued trend of young athletes passing away since 2021.
Young pro athletes keep dropping dead. You think this is normal? It's NOT. Never happened in my lifetime- until 2021. Since then…hundreds have dropped dead. If u don't know why, you're blind, deaf & very dumb.https://t.co/x387GSd9xa
— Wayne Root – Wayne Allyn Root – TV & Radio Host (@RealWayneRoot) November 15, 2023
The New York Post added:
Wylie was a star at Granite Bay High School in California and played at Fresno State from 2007-11, with 56 receptions in 13 games in his senior season.
Wylie also led the Western Athletic Conference with 15.38 yards per punt return and returned two for touchdowns against No. 10 Nebraska and No. 5 Boise State.
He also had four punt returns for 54 yards in the East-West Shrine Bowl, the college football All-Star game.
He was selected by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2012 draft.
“He showed some pretty good quickness and things as far as catching the ball goes,” Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said. “What he was advertised as, it showed. I mean, he has really good quickness and he runs really good routes. I think he’ll be able to get a step on defenders and have a chance to make plays.”
Wylie caught six passes in six games for Kansas City but was released prior to the start of the 2013 season.