Remembering Kasey Redfern, Former Lions Punter, 1991-2026

The Lions family lost one of its own this week.

Kasey Redfern, who punted for Detroit in 2017, died Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 35, after a battle of about three and a half years with a brain tumor and CNS lymphoma. His wife, Lauryl, had shared that he moved into hospice care on Sept. 26, his 35th birthday.

Redfern came out of Wofford as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and fought for his shot across several NFL stops. He signed with the Lions in April 2017 and got into a game for Detroit that September as the fill-in punter. He was hurt on that play and placed on injured reserve, but he made the most of his moment in Honolulu blue. He later punted for Atlanta in 2019.

Our Take: NFL careers aren't measured only in games played. Redfern kept showing up, kept competing and kept chasing it, and by every account he faced his illness the same way, with faith and a smile.

Our thoughts are with Lauryl, their two children and everyone who loved him. Rest easy, Kasey.

Sources: [Yahoo Sports](https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/former-nfl-punter-35-dies-185601251.html), [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/10/16/sports/former-nfl-punter-kasey-redfern-dead-at-35/), [Pro Football Reference](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RedfKa00.htm)