Former NFL punter, 35, dies following cancer battle

A journeyman punter who appeared in four NFL games with the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons died Tuesday, Oct. 13. He was 35.

Redfern had been undergoing chemotherapy treatments since 2023, when he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor and CNS lymphoma. On Sept. 26, Redfern transitioned into hospice care, according to a social media post by his wife Lauryl.

Former NFL player Rob Greene, the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Texas Tech, remembered Redfern as a “great man, husband, father, and friend.”

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Redfern parlayed a college career at Wofford into a professional career that saw him land contracts with seven different teams from 2014-19: the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons.

Redfern appeared in one game with the Lions in 2017, punting once for 50 yards in his NFL debut.

Two years later, he joined the Falcons and appeared in four preseason games with them. He then spent three weeks on the Falcons’ active roster in October 2019. Redfern averaged 41.2 yards per punt on nine attempts, including a long of 54 yards.

A native of Jamestown, N.C., Redfern played four seasons of college football at Wofford (2010-13), where he was both a kicker and a punter. He was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll once. In a December 2012 playoff game against New Hampshire, Redfern made a 33-yard field goal, punted twice with a long of 51 yards, and had one carry for 13 yards.

A four-time scholar-athlete at Ragsdale High School, Redfern also competed in swimming and soccer, for which he earned All-Region honors as a goalkeeper.

Redfern is survived by his wife, Lauryl, and their two children.