Marshawn Kneeland, Cowboys Defensive End, Dies at 24

The football star passed away earlier this week, just two nights after a standout performance during the Dallas Cowboys' Monday Night Football game. Police are investigating his death as a possible suicide.

Marshawn Kneeland, the Dallas Cowboys' defensive end who was drafted into the team in 2024, passed away on Wednesday night, November 5, 2025. He was 24. The Cowboys, as well as his agent, confirmed his death in statements released the following Thursday.

"It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning," a statement from the Cowboys read. "Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family."

In a statement shared by the NFL's Ian Rapoport, his agent, Jonathan Perzley, described him as his "dearest friend." He continued, "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."

"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," Perzley wrote.

Kneeland was a second-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft following a successful college football career at Western Michigan. In his two years with the Cowboys, he played in 18 games, recording 26 tackles and one sack.

He played what became his final game on Monday, November 3, during the Dallas Cowboys' Monday Night Football match against the Arizona Cardinals. In the second quarter, Kneeland recovered a blocked punt and scored a touchdown, giving the Cowboys their first points of the game.

After his death was confirmed, news emerged that police had responded to a welfare concern at his residence on the night of his death but were unable to make contact with anyone inside the home upon arrival.

Later, it was reported that the football player had been involved in a police chase late Wednesday night prior to his death. The pursuit took place on a highway just north of Dallas, according to People.

Texas DPS troopers had attempted to stop Kneeland for a traffic violation on the northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Boulevard, but authorities said he refused to comply.

He fled until they eventually lost sight of him. The troopers, along with the Frisco Police Department found his vehicle crashed in the southbound lanes of the Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway in Frisco at 10:39 p.m., approximately three hours after the chase.

Initial reports indicated that after crashing his car, Kneeland proceeded to flee on foot. He was found dead hours later, at 1:31 a.m. on Thursday morning, in the immediate vicinity of his car with what authorities said appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

While they were searching for him, the Frisco Police Department said it had received reports that Kneeland "had expressed suicidal ideations." People later obtained an audio of a 911 call that revealed that his girlfriend had tried to save him.

"We're talking to the girlfriend. She's trying to call his agent, but we're trying to get her to call him first, but she's saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness and her quote was, 'He will end it all,'" a dispatcher said in the audio.

Another dispatcher also said that Kneeland's family had "received a text from him, a group text from him, saying goodbye. They're concerned for his welfare."