Marshawn Kneeland, Cowboys Defensive End, Dies by Suicide After Struggling with Mental Health
Days after scoring his first career touchdown as a Dallas Cowboy, defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died Thursday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase in Frisco, authorities said. He was 24.
Kneeland’s great-uncle, Preston Kneeland, confirmed the news Thursday morning and told The Dallas Morning News his nephew was an “outstanding young man.”
“He was the gentle giant,” Preston said. “He was just an outstanding dude, and we loved him very much.”
The police chase began 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 police as Kneeland, refused to stop.
According to Jerry Minton, a spokesman for the Plano Police Department, Plano officers responded about 11:30 p.m. to calls for a welfare check in the 6000 block of Columbus Avenue, but no one was home. The address is listed in online records as Kneeland’s residence.
In an audio recording obtained by The News, police were speaking with Kneeland’s girlfriend, who was not identified by authorities. She told police Kneeland was armed, had a history of mental illness and would “end it all.” Police said the girlfriend was trying to contact his agent as officers urged her to reach Kneeland, according to the recording.
Troopers reportedly lost sight of Kneeland’s vehicle during the chase but later found it 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.
In a statement released Thursday morning, the Cowboys called Kneeland a “beloved teammate and member of our organization.”
“Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family,” the statement said.
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 his impact 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 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.
In Kneeland’s last game, he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his first career touchdown in the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss Monday night to the Arizona Cardinals.
In his final college season, Kneeland, who was from Grand Rapids, Michigan, recorded a career-high 57 tackles with seven tackles for loss and 4½ sacks. He earned 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 in 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.”
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Has Urgent Question For Aaron Rodgers And Arthur Smith
The Pittsburgh Steelers moved to 5-3 on Sunday after defeating the Indianapolis Colts 27-20 at Acrisure Stadium. It was a massive win for Pittsburgh as the team had struggled against the Colts over the past two seasons. This time they managed to take down one of the elite teams in the AFC.
This was also a nice win for Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers because they had lost the previous two games. Getting an upset win over one of the best teams in the NFL is always inspiring. The Steelers' offense, led by Aaron Rodgers, was not at its best and played an average game at best, but Rodgers showed he can still make big-time plays. Execution needs to improve, especially in the red zone.
On his podcast Footbahlin, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shared his thoughts on how to help the offense score more touchdowns in the red zone. He is confused about why running back Jaylen Warren is not getting the ball more near the goal line. Roethlisberger believes Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith should give Warren multiple carries in goal-line situations, which could lead to more consistent touchdowns.
"Maybe he has just given total control to Aaron [Rodgers] to throw the little nows or whatever they call them, the little RPO type plays," Roethlisberger said while speaking on his podcast on Tuesday night. "Is it Arthur Smith doing it? I don't know what the deal is, but I would like to see them run it in the goal line. You know you got down to the two or three yard line a couple of times. Why is [Jaylen] Warren not getting the ball three or four times?"
It's very clear that Roethlisberger would like to see Warren get more carries. Especially when that football is near the painted line. Co-host Spencer Te’o pointed out that Warren averages 4.1 yards per carry and is capable of producing in those situations. Roethlisberger agreed with Te'o and then mentioned that the previous week he made the same comments about DK Metcalf.
He wanted Metcalf to receive four targets in goal-line situations. In Roethlisberger’s view, when the Steelers get near the end zone, the offense should focus only on Metcalf or Warren. He believes this is the key to success in the red zone for Smith and the team. If anyone knows how to score touchdowns, it is Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger also noted that some of the issues may come from Rodgers checking out of plays at the line of scrimmage, making it difficult to place full blame. He would like to see Rodgers hand the ball to Warren more often in goal-line situations. If the Steelers can improve execution and commit to using Warren in short-yardage opportunities, they have a chance to turn red zone trips into more touchdowns and strengthen their offense for the rest of the season.
The Steelers Should Use Jaylen Warren More
Warren has carried the ball 99 times for 404 rushing yards and scored two rushing touchdowns through the first eight games. He has also been a weapon in the passing game, recording 21 catches for 193 receiving yards and adding one receiving touchdown.
If Metcalf is unable to get separation, as was the case during the Colts game, checking the ball down to Warren more often would be a smart move. He has been electric whenever he has the football, and Smith should find ways to get him even more touches and create opportunities to get him into space.
