Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland dies by suicide after police chase

FRISCO — Days after scoring his first NFL touchdown, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide near the team’s facility Thursday following a police chase in Frisco, authorities said. He was 24.

Kneeland’s great uncle, Preston Kneeland, confirmed the news when reached by phone Thursday morning, telling The Dallas Morning News his nephew was an “outstanding young man.”

“He was the gentle giant,” Preston said of the 6-3, 275-pound defender. “He was just an outstanding dude, and we loved him very much.”

The police chase started shortly after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday when troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation in the northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Boulevard, Frisco police said.

The driver, identified by officials as Kneeland, refused to stop, police said. In the midst of the chase that ensued, troopers reportedly lost sight of his vehicle.

According to Jerry Minton, a spokesman for the Plano Police Department, Plano officers responded about 11:30 p.m. to a “welfare concern” at Kneeland’s luxury apartment complex in the 6000 block of Columbus Avenue, but no one was home.

In an audio recording obtained by The News, Kneeland’s girlfriend, who was not identified by authorities, told police Kneeland was armed, had a history of mental illness and would “end it all.” Minutes before midnight, police said in the recording that they were on the phone with the NFL when they learned Kneeland had already texted his family goodbye.

Troopers later found Kneeland’s vehicle damaged and abandoned on a southbound lane of the Dallas North Tollway, officials said. With the help of police dogs and drones, Kneeland was found in the area about 1:30 a.m., dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Besides tire tracks in the grass and a throng of TV reporters set up in a nearby parking lot, little was left of the scene late Thursday morning. Less than a mile away at The Star, the Cowboys’ headquarters, a jumbotron displayed Kneeland’s photo and a statement the team had issued regarding his death.

“Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

In their own statement, the Kneeland family said they are “processing the depth of our grief,” and noted that although Kneeland was best known for the mark he was making on the football field, he was also a devoted son, brother, uncle, grandson and friend.

“He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love,” the statement read. “His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.

“During this difficult time, we ask for privacy as we come together as a family to honor and remember Marshawn’s life and legacy.”

The street outside the apartment where Kneeland had lived since last September was calm Thursday morning as office workers walked by the building located near Legacy West and a corporate office for J.P. Morgan Chase. When asked, many residents leaving their homes for morning runs and to walk their dogs said they weren’t aware Kneeland lived there.

‘The gentle giant’

Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round pick out of Western Michigan in the 2024 NFL draft. In nearly two seasons, he played in 18 games with four starts, compiling 26 tackles and one sack.

He was known as a player with a bright smile, and was part of a pass rush rotation that the team had high expectations for, which became more apparent when the team traded star pass rusher Micah Parsons on Aug. 28.

The next day, Kneeland said he was surprised by the trade and appreciated his time with Parsons. “He expressed his love is with the Cowboys, always has [been] and always will be.” Kneeland said in late August. “Being here a year with him, it was just a great development to see how he worked and attacked the game.”

”I’m sorry lil bro," Parsons said Thursday in a post on Instagram. “I hope you find peace.”

Several other players, both past and current, showed an outpouring of support Thursday morning for Kneeland’s family.

Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas posted on X: “Sick my stomach, my brotha man,” while former Cowboys’ running back Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, posted on X he was “heartbroken” over the passing.

In Kneeland’s last game Monday night, after linebacker Sam Williams blocked a punt with his face mask, he outran Williams and wide receiver Ryan Flournoy into the end zone to dive on the ball for the touchdown. Kneeland hugged Williams as he ran off the field.

In his final year of college, Kneeland, who is from Grand Rapids, Mich., had a career-high 57 tackles with seven tackles for loss and four and a half sacks. He received second-team honors in the Mid-American Conference.

“Marshawn was so much more than an incredible football player — he was a remarkable young man who meant so much to our program and to me personally," Western Michigan head football coach Lance Taylor wrote in a statement. “Having coached him during my first season here, we developed a special bond that went far beyond football. His passion for life and his teammates were unmatched.”

As Kneeland was preparing for the NFL draft, his mother, Wendy Kneeland, passed away suddenly.

“It was definitely tough,” Kneeland said after getting drafted. “I just managed it. She helped me a lot in my younger years getting into football. I always had the dream. I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL’ and I made it.”

Kneeland wore his mother’s ashes on a necklace after he was drafted.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” the NFL said in a written statement. “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.”

Mental Health Resources

The Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line: Grant Halliburton Foundation initiative connects North Texans with mental health resources customized to each caller. 972-525-8181 or HereForTexas.com.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 24-hour crisis hotline at 800-273-8255. Confidential online chat is available at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Crisis Text Line: To get 24-hour support, text “HOME” to 741741. More information at crisistextline.org.

North Texas Behavioral Health Authority: 24-hour crisis hotline. 866-260-8000 or ntbha.org.

Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas: Speak to a trained counselor on the 24-hour hotline at 214-828-1000, 800-273-8255 or sccenter.org.

Staff writer Joseph Hoyt contributed to this story.

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