Dallas Cowboys Player Marshawn Kneeland Found Deceased

WARNING: This article includes a reference to suicide.

Authorities in a Dallas suburb reported that Marshawn Kneeland, a 24-year-old defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, was discovered deceased in an apparent suicide. This tragic incident followed Kneeland’s attempt to elude law enforcement in his vehicle and then absconding the scene of an accident on foot.

Frisco police announced on Thursday that they are conducting an investigation into the suicide incident. They disclosed that Kneeland did not comply with the Texas Department of Public Safety troopers during a pursuit related to a traffic violation, which also involved Frisco police on Wednesday night.

The authorities lost visual contact with Kneeland’s vehicle, but later found it crashed a few minutes afterward. While searching for Kneeland after he fled the crash site, officers were informed that Kneeland might be contemplating suicide.

During the search for Kneeland, dispatchers revealed that individuals who knew him had received a farewell group text from Kneeland, expressing concerns for his well-being. The dispatch recordings from Broadcastify indicated that Kneeland’s girlfriend mentioned he was armed, had a history of mental health issues, and might be considering self-harm.

Early Thursday morning, approximately three hours after the crash, Kneeland was discovered deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as per the police statement. Although the exact location where Kneeland’s body was found was not specified, the recordings from Broadcastify revealed that authorities attempted to contact Kneeland through calls and texts and utilized a drone to locate him post-accident.

Kneeland’s death occurred shortly after his notable performance, recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown in a recent game against the Arizona Cardinals, ending in a 27-17 defeat.

Being in his second season with the Cowboys, Kneeland was drafted in the second round from Western Michigan in 2024.

“It is with great sorrow that I confirm the passing of my client and dear friend Marshawn Kneeland last night,” expressed Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, in a statement requesting privacy. Perzley highlighted Kneeland’s dedication and talent on the field, expressing profound grief over the loss.

Kneeland’s initial season displayed promise before being sidelined for five games due to a knee injury. He achieved his first career sack in this season’s opener against Philadelphia and participated in seven games, missing two due to an ankle injury.

The Cowboys expressed their grief, stating, “Marshawn was a cherished teammate and part of our organization. Our thoughts are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family during this difficult time.”

Notably, the Cowboys had been actively seeking defensive linemen in the early rounds of drafts, with Kneeland being selected a year following the drafting of defensive end Sam Williams in the second round, who was involved in the play leading to Kneeland’s touchdown recovery.

Kneeland had faced personal tragedy previously as his mother, Wendy Kneeland, passed away unexpectedly while he was preparing for the draft. Reports indicated that Kneeland wore a necklace containing his mother’s ashes following his association with the Cowboys.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” expressed the NFL, offering support and counseling resources to assist during this challenging time.

Miami Dolphins receivers coach Robert Prince, who was previously with the Cowboys during Kneeland’s rookie year, shared his sorrow with reporters, recalling their interactions during Kneeland’s recovery period.

Reflecting on Kneeland’s successful collegiate career, where he recorded 57 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks in his senior year at Western Michigan, his former coach Lance Taylor expressed profound sadness over the loss, highlighting Kneeland’s leadership and infectious energy.

Tributes from across the NFL poured in, including a message from Tennessee