Prominent professional football and sports journalist Terez Paylor died suddenly at the age of 37, his fiancee announced in a statement on Tuesday.
Ebony Reed, Paylor’s longtime girlfriend and fiancée, said she will be sorely missed.
“While we are shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Terez Paylor, we are also celebrating his extraordinary life that has touched so many people,” said Reed. “Terez was an exceptional journalist whose passion for football has made him a respected voice.”
“Your legacy will leave a lasting impact on sports journalism, the NFL, Kansas City Chiefs and your fans,” she continued. “Most importantly, Terez was a son, grandson, devoted brother, an adorable groom and a wonderful friend to so many. To know him was to love him. ”
Paylor hosted a podcast for Yahoo Sports and was the site’s senior NFL reporter at the time of his death. According to his former Kansas City Star colleague Sam Mellinger, Paylor did not travel to the Super Bowl this year because he wanted to be safe in the midst of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Paylor’s unexpected death on Tuesday was met with a wave of admiration and praise on social media from colleagues, fans and the Kansas City NFL team that he spent years covering.
“Hearing the news of Terez’s death is heartbreaking,” said the team in a declaration on twitter. “He was so young and full of life, he always wanted to do good for people. Many of us at Chiefs have had the opportunity over the years to build a friendship with him, including our players, coaches and team, and he was an incredible person with the right attitude and integrity. “
Paylor was a member of Pro Football Writers of America and a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also an active member of the Kansas City Black Journalists Association.
Paylor worked as a sports writer for the Kansas City Star from 2006 to 2018, when he left to join Yahoo Sports, according to the newspaper. He attended Howard University, majoring in print journalism, and was originally from Detroit.