Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has died at 24, the organization confirmed Thursday morning.
Here’s what we know.
How did Marshawn Kneeland die?
Kneeland died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Frisco police say.
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Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle going northbound on Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Boulevard for a traffic violation around 10:33 p.m., according to a news release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The driver, identified as Kneeland, “refused to stop,” the release said, which resulted in a pursuit with DPS troopers. Troopers lost sight of the vehicle, however, and terminated the pursuit.
This led to a multi-agency search in Frisco, a news release from the department said.
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Frisco police responded at about 10:39 p.m. to assist DPS with locating a vehicle that had evaded troopers during a pursuit that entered the city of Frisco, the release said.
DPS officials said the vehicle was later found abandoned and had been involved in a crash on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.
Frisco police received initial reports indicating that a male subject, later identified as Kneeland, fled the scene on foot.
DPS aircraft and troopers, with assistance from Frisco police K-9 and drone units, searched the immediate area and found Kneeland “dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” officials said in the release.
Though it is not clear from whom, police said officers received information that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations.
Kneeland was later found at 1:31a.m. Thursday morning, dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. However, the official cause of death will be determined by the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Jerry Minton, a spokesman for the Plano Police Department, said Plano officers responded about 11:40 p.m. to a “welfare concern” at an address associated with Kneeland, but no contact was made.
Frisco fire department and Collin County medical examiner’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Dallas Morning News.
Additional information wasn’t available, but officials said the investigation into Kneeland’s death is ongoing and being led by Frisco police.
The Cowboys released a statement Thursday morning about the young player’s tragic passing.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the written statement said. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
What are people saying?
Kneeland’s family released a statement about his death Thursday saying the “heartbreaking news” of his death has them devastated.
“We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief,” the statement read. “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.”
Kneeland’s great uncle, Preston Kneeland said he was “an outstanding young man,” when reached by the phone Thursday.
“He was the gentle giant. He was just an outstanding dude and we loved him very much,” he said.
Preston Kneeland said the last time he reached out to his nephew was Tuesday to talk about Monday’s game.
“I talked to him Tuesday, congratulating him on his first touchdown in the NFL,” Preston said. “And he answered my text. I normally just text him I love him and I’ll catch the game or whatever.”
Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley of Sportsstars Inc., also said in a statement on Instagram that he was “shattered” about his death.
“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night. 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,” the agent’s statement said. “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. My heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time.”
Who is Marshawn Kneeland?
Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round pick out of Western Michigan in the 2024 NFL draft.
In nearly two seasons, he played in 18 games with four starts, compiling 26 tackles and one sack.
In Kneeland’s last game, he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his first career touchdown in the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss Monday night to the Arizona Cardinals.
In his final year of college, Kneeland, who is from Grand Rapids, Mich., had a career-high 57 tackles with seven tackles for loss and four and a half sacks. He was named to the second team in the Mid-American Conference.
As Kneeland was preparing for the NFL draft, his mother, Wendy Kneeland, passed away suddenly.
“It was definitely tough,” Kneeland said after getting drafted. “I just managed it. She helped me a lot in my younger years getting into football. I always had the dream. I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL’ and I made it.”
Kneeland wore his mother’s ashes on a necklace after he was drafted.
Mental Health ResourcesThe Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line: Grant Halliburton Foundation initiative connects North Texans with mental health resources customized to each caller. 972-525-8181 or HereForTexas.com.National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 24-hour crisis hotline at 800-273-8255. Confidential online chat is available at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.Crisis Text Line: To get 24-hour support, text “HOME” to 741741. More information at crisistextline.org.North Texas Behavioral Health Authority: 24-hour crisis hotline. 866-260-8000 or ntbha.org.Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas: Speak to a trained counselor on the 24-hour hotline at 214-828-1000, 800-273-8255 or sccenter.org.
Staff writer Calvin Watkins contributed to this report.