On Thursday morning, the Cowboys announced the passing of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. He was twenty-four years old.
The news was verified by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “The Dallas Cowboys are deeply saddened to announce that Marshawn Kneeland passed away this morning,” the team announced in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
The Cowboys did not share details of how Kneeland died. The Frisco Police Department released a statement late Thursday morning that revealed Kneeland died from “what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.” The exact cause and manner of death will be determined by the Collin County medical examiner’s office. Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round pick out of Western Michigan in the 2024 draft. The Michigan native played 18 games across one and a half seasons in Dallas, and was coming off a big game in which he scored a defensive touchdown after recovering a blocked punt in Week 9’s Monday Night Football loss to the Cardinals.
News of Kneeland’s tragic death rocked the NFL community on Thursday, with many sharing their condolences and sending thoughts and prayers to Kneeland’s family on social media: