A former Michigan football player, died at the age of 33 following a private fight with colon cancer
Craig Roe, a former Michigan Wolverines defensive standout, died Monday after a secret battle with colon cancer,
his wife said.
He was 33 years old.
“I wanted to let all of his followers know that, after an 18-month battle with Stage IV colon cancer, God brought
Craig home on Monday, February 26th,” his widow Chelsea wrote on his X account Wednesday. “Craig was not very
public about his battle because he honestly wanted to focus on creating the finest content and products he could. He
outlined a timeline for his company, so stay tuned.”
He shined as a four-star prospect at Chaparral High School, where he was voted Arizona’s Gatorade Player of the
Year, before committing to Michigan in 2008.
Roh, who played at Michigan from 2009 to 2012, set a program record with 51 consecutive starts.
His most notable performance may have come at the end of a 67-65 triple overtime victory over Illinois in 2010.
With Illinois attempting a two-point convert to force a fourth OT, Roh drove quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase out of
the pocket, resulting in an incomplete pass.
Roh received honorable mention in 2011 and second-team honors in 2012.
“I am saddened to hear about the passing of former defensive end Craig Roh, our program’s all-time leader in career
starts,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore tweeted. “My heart goes out to his family at this terrible moment. The
entire Roh family is in my thoughts and prayers, and we wish peace and comfort to those who knew this great
Wolverine.
Former NFL standout Taylor Lewan, Roh’s high school and college teammate, expressed grief over his roommate’s
death.
“Without Craig I never have the opportunity to live the life I do now,” Lewan remarked in an interview with X. “I
would never have made it to college, the NFL, or the position I hold now. So Craig Roh has genuinely changed my life
for the better.
