Dallas Cowboys announce DE Marshawn Kneeland dead at 24 years old
Marshawn Kneeland was in his second year in the NFL.
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has died at 24 years old, the team announced Thursday morning.
UPDATE: The Texas Department of Public Safety released a statement regarding Kneeland’s death that described it as a “self-inflicted gunshot.” Per the press release, Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation, but the driver refused to stop. Officials lost sight of the vehicle, which was later found abandoned in a crash on the southbound lanes of Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.
“DPS Aircraft and Troopers, along with Frisco Police Department, searched the immediate area and found the driver, 24 YOA, Marshawn Kneeland, of Plano, deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” reads the statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Cowboys, NFL, Mike Zimmer statements
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team’s statement reads. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
“He was a great person, eager to learn,” former Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer told Jane Slater from NFL Network. “Wanted to be great. He didn’t take any crap from anyone on the field. He studied hard-loved playing the game. Tough. My last conversation with him was keep being you, you’re going to have a great career.”
In a separate statement, the NFL added: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland. Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.”
Who was Marshawn Kneeland?
Kneeland, born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was a football player and defensive end drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
He went to college at Western Michigan and earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2023 when he finished the season with a career-high 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and eight quarterback hurries.
In high school, Kneeland was a team captain. He set Godwin Heights career records for tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks.
