Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has tragically passed away at the age of 24 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Frisco, Texas, police department. The Dallas Cowboys organization expressed their profound sorrow in a statement released Thursday, stating, “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
The Frisco Police Department responded to an incident late Wednesday night, approximately at 10:39 p.m., when they were called to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in locating a vehicle involved in a pursuit. The state law enforcement agency indicated that it had attempted to pull over the vehicle for a traffic violation, but the driver refused to stop. The vehicle was later found unoccupied, having crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.
Witnesses reported that a man, later identified as Kneeland, fled the scene on foot. During the search, officers were informed that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations. Police dispatch audio from the incident, which was later shared by TMZ, revealed that Kneeland had sent a group text message to say goodbye to his family. This led to the use of thermal imaging technology by police to locate him in the dark.
At 1:31 a.m., Kneeland was located deceased with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Frisco police stated, “The cause/manner of death will be determined by the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office.” Earlier that evening, at 11 p.m., the Plano Police Department had visited Kneeland's residence at the request of Frisco police but were unable to make contact. A subsequent welfare check at the same address at 11:40 p.m. also yielded no contact.
Kneeland was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, just months after the unexpected passing of his mother, Wendy Kneeland, due to an undisclosed illness. In an interview with the Dallas Morning News, Kneeland shared that he carried some of his mother’s ashes in a tiny urn around his neck, stating, “She helped me a lot in my younger years getting into football. I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL’ and I made it.”
He reflected on his journey, saying, “It’s a hard situation just knowing she got to see me potentially going to the NFL. She’s still with me. I got this urn of her ashes I carry with me everywhere. I still feel like she’s there watching over me.” During his time with the Cowboys, Kneeland participated in 18 games, recording 26 tackles, four quarterback hits, and one sack. Notably, he scored his first NFL touchdown by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone during a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, expressed his grief in a statement, saying, “I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”
In their own statement, Kneeland’s family conveyed their devastation over the loss, stating, “We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief. As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field — as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend. He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.”
