In the early morning hours of Thursday, November 6, Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones heard his phone ring.
Stephen, the oldest son of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, answered, only to be told that Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was dead.
The call came “not long after the incident,” according to ESPN. Kneeland’s body was found shortly after 1:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, dead of an apparent suicide. He was 24 years old.
“Anytime you get news like that your heart just, obviously it’s like a hole going through it and you’re just heartbroken,” Stephen, 61, said Monday, November 10, on Dallas’ 105.3 The Fan. “Certainly, hoping that wasn’t the case. Found out in the middle of the night, so woke up after I finally got a little bit of sleep and woke up and was hoping it was a dream, but unfortunately it wasn’t.”
Related: Former Coach of Marshawn Kneeland Recalls Final Chat Days Before His Death
A former coach of late Dallas Cowboys lineman Marshawn Kneeland revealed he spoke to the NFL star just days before his sudden death. “I am crushed at this moment and my heart and the hearts of Marshawn’s family, teammates and coaches are shattered,” University of Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito said in a statement […]
He added, ”Of course the call we got on Marshawn is the worst of all. You certainly get other calls that aren’t good and are alarming but certainly when there’s a loss of life, it’s just heartbreaking and tragic and the worst thing you can imagine.”
Stephen said he will remember Kneeland, who the Cowboys selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, as somebody with “a big passion and love for the game.”
“He played with a high motor,” Stephen explained. “He loved to get after it. Certainly, that jumped off the tape when you watched Marshawn when we were scouting him. I mean he just jumped off the tape, how he hustled, how he played the game, his passion for the game. And certainly, he was that way as a person and played that way for us and we’re just going to miss him so much.”
After a bye week, the Cowboys return to action on Monday, November 17, traveling to Las Vegas to play the Raiders on Monday Night Football.
Stephen said the team is still working with Kneeland’s family to figure out the best way to honor his life.
Related: Who Is Late Dallas Cowboys Star Marshawn Kneeland‘s Girlfriend Catalina?
Dallas Cowboys star Marshawn Kneeland had the support of his girlfriend, Catalina, before his tragic death. Catalina called the police on Wednesday, November 5, in an attempt to get Kneeland help before he ultimately died by suicide in the early morning hours of Thursday, November 6. “We’re talking to his girlfriend,” a 911 dispatcher said […]
“Certainly, it puts everything into perspective,” he said. “You’re playing a game that means a lot to a lot of people but there are things a lot more important than that. Certainly, that’s what we’re going through this week. So that’ll be first and foremost. But then we do know, like anything, you’ve got to get back to work. We just want to continue to honor Marshawn and do everything the very best way we can.”
Thank You!
You have successfully subscribed.
The Kneeland family issued a statement about the Cowboys star’s death on Thursday.
“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.”
The family continued, “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. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, fans, and the community. During this difficult time, we ask for privacy as we come together as a family to honor and remember Marshawn’s life and legacy.”