Chiefs’ Travis Kelce breaks silence on bone-crushing hit from Buffalo Bills’ Cole Bishop
The Buffalo Bills’ safety flew around the field during the Buffalo Bills’ 28-21 victory, making multiple plays. Bishop recorded four pass breakups, one that resulted in a turnover on downs, and a tackle for loss in the matchup, but the play that was talked about the most was his big hit on Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce late in the first half.
With the Chiefs deep in Bills territory, Patrick Mahomes looked to hit Kelce for a touchdown pass. The ball was off the mark, but it didn’t matter as Bishop would have had his fifth pass breakup of the game. In a perfectly timed hit, Bishop’s shoulder connected with Kelce as he tried to come up with the ball. The end result was Kelce staying on the turf for a few extra seconds after the play.
In a new episode of the New Heights podcast, Jason Kelce asked his brother about the hit.
“Bro, it’s football. Stop it,” Travis Kelce said. “It knocked the wind out of me. He caught me. I got kind of sandwiched in there. You know you’re okay, but you just kinda have to (makes breathing sounds)...”
Kelce was seen leaving the field right before the end of the first half with trainers. The hit from Bishop was so hard that the league had Kelce evaluated for a concussion.
Travis said he was told, “Go into the blue tent. You got your wind knocked out.”
When Jason asked if his brother had to go into the blue tent, Travis clarified that he had been tested in the locker room.
“No, it was at halftime,” Kelce added. “I had to get evaluated in the locker room. I’m just sitting there like, ‘Why? What is this? Why is this?”
He went on to say that he was asked what day it was and what team the Chiefs played the week before Buffalo.
“Before a concussion or after a concussion, I don’t know who we played last week,” the Chiefs tight end said. “We’re in Week 9! Are you kidding me?”
Kelce was ultimately able to remember that the Chiefs’ previous opponent was the Commanders.
Marshawn Kneeland’s Parents & Family: Cowboys DE Survived by Father, Siblings
The sad end of Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland is, it turns out, part of a wider tragedy that has weighed down his family for more than a year. Kneeland, according to reports, took his own life this week at age 24, after what was described in a police radio call as a history of mental health issues.
Throughout Kneeland’s short life, though, he always remained firmly tethered to his roots in Western Michigan, where he grew up and attended high school, at Godwin Heights HS in Wyoming, Michigan. He was a star football and basketball player for the Wolverines, and set a school record for sacks and tackles. He was also a track star, winning the regional championship in the 400-meter dash.
Kneeland was considered a 2-star recruit, though, and could not drum up much interest from top-tier programs coming out of high school. He wound up at Western Michigan, one of the few schools to offer him a scholarship. Kneeland nearly left WMU for coach Deion Sanders and Colorado in the transfer portal, but ultimately reneged on that commitment and remained in Kalamazoo.
Marshawn Kneeland’s Girlfriend Reportedly Is an Entrepreneur
Kneeland was known to be in a relationship with his girlfriend, whom the Cowboys referred to as Catalina in a statement announcing his death, and who is reported to be Catalina Mancera, who owns a custom NFL clothing business called, SZN Stitches.
It was his girlfriend who, in police dispatch audio released by TMZ Sports, alerted police (as did a representative of the NFL) that Kneeland was armed and that she was worried about his mental well-being.
During the call, the operator can be heard to say that the subject–Kneeland–was “texting his family goodbye.”
Cowboys Draftee Had Just Lost His Mother
Kneeland was the son of Shawn and Wendy Kneeland. He leaves behind his father, as well as grandparents.
His mother, though, died a year ago of an undisclosed cause. That tragedy stung Kneeland deeply, and came just days before the start of the NFL draft combine, where he would make or break his draft stock. Kneeland described his mother as the one who fueled his desire to play football and ultimately reach the NFL.
After her death, he began wearing a small urn on a necklace, containing some of Wendy’s ashes.
He told the Dallas Morning News: “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. It’s a hard situation just knowing she got to see me potentially going to the NFL and going through [the process]. She’s still with me. I got this urn of her ashes I carry with me everywhere. I still feel like she’s there watching over me.”
InstagramMarshawn Kneeland at Western Michigan. He lost his mother last year before he was drafted.
Marshawn Kneeland Family Included 3 Siblings
According to Western Michigan, Kneeland also has three siblings: AJ, Shawn Micheal and Yahmya.
A family statement was posted to the Facebook page of digital content creator AJ Kneeland of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Shawn Kneeland and Yahmya Kneeland. On Marshawn Kneeland’s Facebook page, his “Intro” line reads, “Wmu Alum🏈 #94 Making my family proud💯 NFL🏈🤫💯.”
The statement read: “The Kneeland family can confirm the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Marshawn Kneeland.
“We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief. As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field — as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend. He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.
“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, fans, and the community. During this difficult time, we ask for privacy as we come together as a family to honor and remember Marshawn’s life and legacy.
“With love and appreciation,
The Kneeland Family”
