24-Year-Old Dallas Cowboy Dies Just Days After Scoring Dramatic Touchdown
The Dallas Cowboys announced Thursday that defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has died at the age of 24.
The Cowboys’ statement read, “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Kneeland’s death comes just days after he gained national notice for scoring a dramatic touchdown on a punt block against the Cardinals.
The Frisco County, TX, Police Department reported that Kneeland died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head following a police chase Wednesday night. Police said they found Kneeland’s car crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway and that Kneeland fled the scene on foot.
Frisco police said officers learned that Kneeland “had expressed suicidal ideations” and “was later located at 1:31a.m., deceased with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
They discovered Kneeland deceased following a multi-agency pursuit.
According to CNN, “Kneeland appeared in seven games for Dallas this season, making 12 tackles and recording one sack. Kneeland scored his first career touchdown in the Cowboys’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday night after recovering a blocked punt in the end zone.”
Kneeland was a second-round draft pick from 2024, and was playing in his second season with the Cowboys after attending Western Michigan University.
Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, posted a statement on Instagram, stating, “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.”
Perzley continued:
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. I ask that you please give his loved ones the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this tremendous loss.
In a social media post, the National Football League said it was “deeply saddened by the tragic news.”
Watch the clip above via CNN.
