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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
The details of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland’s tragic death hit the NFL like a thunderbolt on Thursday morning, with more details from authorities adding heartbreaking, shocking details to what occurred.
In a statement shared by The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Kneeland’s death was confirmed as a suicide.
According to Texas DPS, Kneeland, 24 years old, died of a self inflicted gunshot wound following a brief car chase with Highway Patrol after they attempted to pull him over on Wednesday night, with his body eventually found early Thursday morning.
From Texas DPS: “On November 5, 2025, at 10:33 P.M., Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on the northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Blvd. The driver refused to stop, resulting in a pursuit with DPS Troopers. However, DPS Troopers lost sight of the vehicle, and the pursuit was terminated. The vehicle was later located abandoned and had been involved in a crash on the southbound lanes of Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway. DPS Aircraft and Troopers, along with the Frisco Police Department, searched the immediate area and found the driver, 24 YOA, Marshawn Kneeland, of Plano, deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. For inquiries regarding the death investigation, contact the Frisco Police Department. This investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available.”
An additional statement from the Plano Police Department added further details on Kneeland’s final hours.
“Plano Police tell me they conducted a welfare check at Marshawn Kneeland’s residence at 6000 block of Columbus at 11pm but no one was there,” CBS 11 News Dallas reporter J.D. Miles wrote on his official X account. “Frisco Police asked Plano Police to try and get ahold of the owner of a vehicle found wrecked in Frisco that matched one registered to that address and had been involved in a pursuit with state troopers.”
Frisco Police said they received reports Kneeland had expressed he might kill himself to someone close to him.
“During the course of the search (for Kneeland), officers received information that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations,” FPD said in an official statement. “Kneeland was later located at 1:31 a.m.”
TMZ Sports released an audio recording of a dispatch call in which authorities appeared to be communicating with the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and Kneeland’s girlfriend.
From TMZ: “TMZ Sports has obtained police dispatch audio connected to Marshawn Kneeland’s death … which reveals the Dallas Cowboys player told his family goodbye in an apparent mental health episode. The clip is from late Wednesday night — operators in Texas are heard relaying information from Kneeland’s girlfriend, who stated she received a concerning message from the 24-year-old and was trying to contact the defensive end’s agent.”
Kneeland in Second Season With Cowboys
Kneeland, a Michigan native, was in his second season with the Cowboys after they drafted him in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft out of Western Michigan, where he was an All-MAC selection in 2023.
His death came just days after he scored a touchdown off a blocked punt in a 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football.
Cowboys Pro Bowl tight end Jake Ferguson reacted to Kneeland’s death with a post on his Instagram Stories, writing “LOVE YOU BROTHER” over a picture from the NFL’s official post about Kneeland’s death.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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