“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the Cowboys said in a statement posted to the team’s website.<\/p>\n
“Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”<\/p>\n
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN DENVER<\/p>\n
Tributes poured in from around the league for Kneeland, who had scored his first career touchdown three days earlier when he ran in a recovered blocked punt in prime time on Monday Night Football.<\/p>\n
“Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field,” his agent Jonathan Perzley said in a statement posted to Instagram.<\/p>\n
“To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”<\/p>\n
In a statement, the Frisco Police Department said it had responded to assist with locating a vehicle that had evaded troopers during a pursuit.<\/p>\n
“After losing visual of the vehicle, troopers located it minutes later, crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway,” the police statement said.<\/p>\n “Initial reports indicated that a male subject, later identified as 24-year-old Marshawn Kneeland of Plano, TX fled the scene on foot.”<\/p>\n Police said Kneeland was later located deceased, having died from what appeared to be suicide.<\/p>\n The Denver Broncos held a moment of silence before their 10-7 home win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, while Seattle defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, Kneeland’s former teammate, stressed the importance of mental health awareness.<\/p>\n “I know he loved the game. He loved to smile. He loved interacting with his teammates,” said Lawrence, who played with Kneeland last season in Dallas.<\/p>\n “I feel like people don’t understand that our words have power. We throw them around so loosely with no care in the world, and our words can cut deep,” he told a press conference.<\/p>\n The athletic department at Western Michigan University, Kneeland’s alma mater, was “heartbroken” over Kneeland’s passing.<\/p>\n “Marshawn was a beloved member of our campus community and a proud alumnus who worked hard to earn a degree and achieve his dream of being drafted into the NFL,” Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae said in a statement.<\/p>\n “While his football talents were exceptional, they came second to his kind and engaging spirit and his love for his Bronco teammates and coaches.”<\/p>\n (This story has been refiled to fix name of a reporter in the sign-off)<\/p>\n Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York, additional reporting by Rohith Nair and Shifa Jahan; Editing by Toby Davis and Peter Rutherford<\/p>\n Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n![\"NFL:](\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/resizer\/v2\/3SJ7WKWNVROVDPOVBVBWZCBFGU.jpg?auth=207ab584b28698299b3f6a223fc37cf8fe08f9dfb459d691f9af466f89378b87&width=8256&quality=80\")
Nov 3, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (94) and defensive end Sam Williams (54) celebrates after returning a blocked punt for a touchdown during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n