Dallas Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland Dies in Apparent Suicide
The Dallas Cowboys and the entire NFL community are mourning the devastating loss of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who died Thursday morning at the age of 24. The tragic news comes just days after the young athlete scored the first touchdown of his professional career.
Frisco police are investigating the death as an apparent suicide. The incident followed a late-night vehicle pursuit and an extensive search after Kneeland fled the scene of a car crash on foot.
A Tragic Sequence of Events
The events leading to Kneeland’s death began on the evening of Wednesday, November 5. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, troopers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation around 10:33 p.m. local time. The driver, later identified as Kneeland, refused to stop, initiating a brief pursuit that was called off after troopers lost sight of the vehicle.
Minutes later, the vehicle was found crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway in Frisco, Texas. Authorities reported that Kneeland had fled the scene on foot, prompting a multi-agency search using K-9 and drone units.
During the search, the situation turned gravely serious. Officers received information that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations.According to police dispatches, his girlfriend reported that he was armed, had a history of mental health issues, and had stated he would “end it all”.In a separate account, it was reported that an NFL player, believed to be Kneeland, had been texting his family goodbye.
Tragically, at 1:31 a.m. on Thursday, November 6, Kneeland was located deceased. Police stated the cause appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.The Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death.
A Promising Career Cut Short
The shocking news has cast a pall over the football world, coming just three days after Kneeland’s brightest professional moment. During the Cowboys’ Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals, he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his first-ever NFL touchdown.It was a celebratory highlight in what was his second season with the team.
The Cowboys selected Kneeland in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan University.His agent, Jonathan Perzley, remembered him as a player who “poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field”.He watched Kneeland fight his way “from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys”.
A Community in Mourning
The outpouring of grief has been immediate and profound. The Dallas Cowboys organization issued a statement expressing “extreme sadness” and noting that “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization”.he statement extended thoughts and prayers to his girlfriend, Catalina, and his family.
His former college coach, Lance Taylor of Western Michigan, said his heart was “absolutely broken.” He recalled Kneeland as a “remarkable young man” whose “leadership, energy, and smile were infectious”.
The personal loss echoes a previous tragedy in Kneeland’s life. His mother, Wendy, died shortly before he was drafted in 2024.At the time, he shared that he had always told her he would make it to the NFL, and he carried her ashes in a necklace after joining the Cowboys.
The National Football League also released a statement, saying it is “deeply saddened by the tragic news” and is providing support and counseling resources to the Cowboys organization.
Editor’s Note: *If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, please know you are not alone. Help is available 24/7. Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. by calling or texting 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for online chat*
