Terez Paylor, a national NFL writer for Yahoo Sports and Pro Football Hall of Fame voter, died unexpectedly Tuesday at the age of 37.
Paylor worked for the Kansas City Star from 2006 to 2018 and spent the past five seasons beating the Chiefs for the newspaper. He left for Yahoo Sports, where he covered the NFL.
“While we are shocked and saddened by Terez Paylor’s sudden passing, we are also celebrating his extraordinary life that has touched so many,” said Ebony Reed, his fiancé and longtime girlfriend, in an online post from Yahoo Sports. Terez was an exceptional journalist whose passion for football made him a revered voice. His legacy will have a lasting impact on sports journalism, the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans.
Most importantly, Terez was a devoted son, grandson, brother, adoring fiancé, and a wonderful friend to so many. To know him was to love him. He will be sorely missed. ‘
With a heavy heart, we announce that our beloved friend, colleague and Yahoo Sports journalist Terez Paylor has passed away.
Statement from Ebony Reed, Terez’s fiancé: pic.twitter.com/oUFlJsXnSk
– Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 9, 2021
Paylor graduated from Howard University in 2006 and joined the Star. He handled preparations, Arena football and Sporting KC in Major League Soccer. He also covered the University of Missouri for the paper. He took over the Chiefs beat in 2013 and held it until he left for Yahoo in 2018.
Kansas City Star columnist Sam Mellinger wrote that “the genius of Terez had nothing to do with turning a sentence … He knew football and the people who loved it. He built and executed a plan that quickly led him to one of America’s best soccer battle writers – a hugely competitive field. “
He was a senior writer for Yahoo Sports at the time of his death.
He was one of 48 voting members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the National Association of Black Journalists.
Funeral arrangements are pending.