Ex-NFL star Devon Wylie dies at the age of 35 from unknown causes: Family says former Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans wide receiver was 'always making people laugh and entertaining us'

Former NFL star Devon Wylie has passed away aged 35 from unknown causes, his family has announced. 

The family of the wide receiver, who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans, paid a heartbreaking tribute after his death. 

'We wanted to make this post so people who knew and loved Devon could learn of his passing because we don’t have the capacity to reach out to everyone in this hard time,' the family said, according to reports. 

'There are no words to express the sadness that comes from losing a brother, dear friend and an amazing uncle. 

'Devon had so much love and joy to give. Always making people laugh and entertaining us with his football skills, guitar jams, silly jokes and voices, back-flip tricks, fun banter Star Wars obsession chat, Halo nights and not to mention his beautiful smile. We will miss him always.' 

His Instagram indicates that he began a music career in San Francisco after his pro-football career. 

Before launching his NFL career, Wylie was a star high school player at Granite Bay High School in California before moving to Fresno State, where he played from 2007-2011. 

Fresno State said after news of Wylie's death that he is 'forever a bulldog.'

'Our thoughts are with the Wylie family during this difficult time,' the team said on X, formerly Twitter. 

Barstool Fresno State, a fan account, added that he was 'One of the best if not the best special team return player to come out of Fresno State.' 

'Prayers to the entire Wylie family and the entire red wave. This one hurts.' 

As a wide receiver, during his college career he led the Western Athletic Conference in yards per punted return in his senior season, where he recorded 56 receptions in 13 games. 

Wylie was drafted into the NFL in the fourth round by the Chiefs, as Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel said the player 'showed some pretty good quickness and things as far as catching the ball goes,' at the time. 

'What he was advertised as, it showed. I mean, he has really good quickness and he runs really good routes,' he said of the decision to enter Wylie into the pro-leagues.

'I think he’ll be able to get a step on defenders and have a chance to make plays.' 

He was released before the 2013 season by the Chiefs, after receiving six passes in six games. 

He then spent one season at the Titans, before moving to six teams over the next two seasons. He ended his career in 2016 in the Canadian Football League.