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Why Jaguars' Dyami Brown will 'keep swinging' through an adverse season
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- Why Jaguars' Dyami Brown will 'keep swinging' through an adverse season
( Editor's note: This story is a sample from " Jaguars Uncaged," the new twice-a-week newsletter offered by the Florida Times-Union. Here's how you can sign up for stories and analysis to be sent straight to your email . )
When the Jacksonville Jaguars take the field in Nashville for their first matchup against the Tennessee Titans , it'll be for a good purpose.
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The game is the annual "My Cause, My Cleats" theme where NFL players sport different cleats that represent a cause close to home for them.
Wide receiver Dyami Brown carries his cause every day, not just on the special gameday.
"I had a college teammate, he died last year around October due to lung cancer," Brown told the Times-Union . "He was working with this organization, the American Cancer Society, so I pretty much just dedicated this whole thing to him."
Immediate Impact: Jacksonville Jaguars wasted no time getting Brenton Strange involved
That teammate, Tylee Craft , was a four-star rated receiver who was ranked the No. 7 player in South Carolina before he committed to the University of North Carolina. Craft developed a close relationship with Brown, who hosted him on Craft's recruitment visit to UNC.
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Craft was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer on March 14, 2022, and went through several treatments prior to his passing on October 12, 2024. But even as he went through his physical battles, he remained positive and kept a smile on his face.
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 12: Head coach Mack Brown (L) of the North Carolina Tar Heels embraces September Craft, mother of North Carolina wide receiver Tylee Craft (not pictured), who is battling Stage 4 lung cancer, during the first half of the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
It's something that sticks with Brown daily, but especially as he'll have a chance to honor Craft on Sunday when he dons a pair of Carolina Blue cleats with "Keep Swinging" on the side of them.
"No matter what's going on, you're going to get through it," Brown explained. "For him to do that, I've heard stories, he was going through chemo, and still going to the practices, when he really didn't even need to. But he wanted to be out there with the guys.
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"It was just how much he cared and loved the things that mattered to him. For him to go through that, and, unfortunately, he lost his life for it."
Jaguars' Dyami Brown 's message during "My Cause, My Cleats" is 'keep swinging'
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown partnered with the American Cancer Society for the "My Cause, My Cleats" game this year. His cleats honor former teammate Tylee Craft, who died from lung cancer in October 2024.
When Brown signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Jaguars during the offseason, it was expected that he'd help raise the floor of Jacksonville's receiver room as the team undergoes a remodeling of their offense.
It hasn't exactly gone as planned.
Brown suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the season that sidelined him for a game and has been used as a rotational receiver in recent weeks. The team traded for additional receiver help at the trade deadline and his usage has dipped in recent weeks.
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Still, he comes to work with the same energy he had when he was a starter.
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (7) is congratulated by wide receiver Dyami Brown (5) and running back Lequint Allen Jr. (36) on a touchdown that was called back on a offensive penalty during the third quarter of an NFL football matchup, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Seahawks defeated the Jaguars 20-12.
"He's been a good teammate," quarterback Trevor Lawrence said of Brown. "He's been there for the guys, he's always been willing to do whatever it takes for us to win or just to do his part."
Rookie wide receiver Travis Hunter gave kudos to Brown for keeping him grounded during the San Francisco 49ers game despite not being active. He's earned praise from the coaching staff for being adaptable after he stepped into a kick returner role against the Los Angeles Rams .
According to Brown, it's all a part of the keep swinging mentality.
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"For me, plenty of situations that I could have been into where I could have given up or quit on myself, and something I probably went through was simple," he said. "For somebody else to go through something way deeper than what I'm going through, I can't sit here and complain about what's going on. All I have to do is, just overcome and keep swinging, keep fighting."
'Keep Swinging' has become a mantra for Dyami Brown as he battles through difficult season with Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Dyami Brown partnered with the American Cancer Society for the "My Cause, My Cleats" game this year. His cleats honor former teammate Tylee Craft, who died from lung cancer in October 2024.
Brown suffered a concussion against the Las Vegas Raiders during a kick return late in the game.
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Before the return, he'd matched his season-high for targets with seven. The Jaguars had placed Travis Hunter on the injured reserve list and the opportunity was there for Brown to step into a larger role.
But he had to exit and watch as his teammates finished off the game. The team traded for Jakobi Meyers in the days after the game and essentially reshuffled their receiver room.
Some players would've taken it personally and become malcontent or a bad teammate. Not Brown.
"Dyami's been super consistent for us with the effort and the professionalism, the way he works," offensive coordinator Grant Udinski said. "We try to preach for all of our guys controlling what we can control and kind of trying to limit the outside noise. You're the master of your own energy in that sense and he has done that."
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Again, it goes back to the mindset that he's adopted from his former teammate, Craft. Just keep swinging and giving it your best effort. Whether he's starting or on the sideline. Whether it's practice or a game.
He's been the same player for the Jaguars and that's been a welcomed presence in a receiver room that's had a lot of turnover in the lats nine months.
"It's like a pinch, it's not something that's something that's going to kill me or anything like that, but it's something that I had to deal with," Brown said. "At the end of the day, I have to come here with positive mindset, good energy, to perform the way I need to, man, and I'm going to keep doing that."
When asked if there was anything else he wanted people to know, Brown had a simple response. He smiled, looked up and said, "keep swinging."
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars' Dyami Brown honors former college teammate Tylee Craft
