Douglas County’s high school football team is mourning the death of senior two-year starter. Tyler Fairley, an all-region offensive lineman, died Sunday evening of an illness unrelated to football, Douglas County coach Johnny White confirmed to the Douglas County Sentinel on Tuesday.
“They have a new motivation for the season,” White told the newspaper. “I have a new purpose to coach. Everybody is taking it hard, but they wanted to be at practice and dedicate the season to Tyler.”
Douglas County’s football Twitter account first indicated late Sunday that Fairley died. Fairley was a two-year starter and made the all-Region 5-6A second team as a junior.
You will be MISSED ..😢😢. Rest easy Tyler pic.twitter.com/AMzmwqz0l9
— DC Football (@DCTIGERS_FB) August 1, 2021
RIP big homie felt like just the other day we were training with @bigka54 I know your still kick stepping above let your legacy live on thoughts and prayers to Tyler’s family. pic.twitter.com/KgmxwcyK8l
— Madden Sanker (@MaddenSanker) August 1, 2021
No cause of death has been given, although White indicated it was not related to football. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
Fairley was the second Georgia high school football player to die in a seven-day period. On July 26, Joshua Ivory, an offensive lineman at Southwest High in Macon, died after collapsing during a football practice.
Douglas County High endured another preseason tragedy in 2014, when football player Zyrees Oliver died of water intoxication after drinking four gallons of fluid during a practice.
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