Former Kentucky WR Chris Lewis medically retires from football following cancer battle

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Sep 17, 2022; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Chris Lewis (89) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Youngstown State Penguins at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

After winning his battle with cancer back in the fall, former Kentucky wide receiver Chris Lewis is hanging up his helmet and cleats.

Lewis, who started his college career with the Wildcats before transferring to Troy ahead of the 2023 season, announced on Monday that he is medically retiring from football. The Alabama native was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in December 2023, which forced him to sit out the entire 2024 campaign with the Trojans as a result of a 10-week chemotherapy treatment and surgery to remove the tumor.

“Unfortunately, in December 2023, my career took a turn I didn’t see coming,” Lewis wrote on social media. “I gave everything I had to rehab, but despite all the work and prayers, my leg didn’t recover the way we hoped. After deep prayer and conversations with my doctors and medical team, I’ve been medically advised to retire from the game I’ve given my heart to.”

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Lewis was declared cancer-free in September 2024.

Love 6 ❤️‍🔥 #Godsplan pic.twitter.com/GNiBWFc8Cf
— 6 (@ChrisLew__) June 2, 2025

A former top 500 recruit out of high school, Lewis committed to Kentucky in June 2020 over offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas A&M, South Carolina, and others. He redshirted his freshman season at UK in 2021 after appearing in just four games before registering two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown across eight games played as a redshirt freshman in 2022.

Following his two-year stint with the Wildcats, Lewis transferred to Troy, where he played under former Kentucky assistant coach Jon Sumrall for the 2023 campaign. Lewis was a standout for the Trojans in what was his final season playing college football, hauling in 10 touchdowns while leading the country with a 22.97 yards per catch average. He was named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team for his efforts before serving as a graduate assistant under new head coach Gerard Parker in 2024.

“Thank you to everyone who has been part of this ride,” Lewis wrote. “I’m forever grateful.”