Marshawn Kneeland death: Cause revealed behind Dallas Cowboys DE’s stunning passing
On Thursday morning, the Dallas Cowboys announced the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. He was 24 years old. Since the initial announcement, further details about Kneeland’s passing have gradually emerged, including his cause of death.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Nick Harris first reported police officers responded to “a welfare concern” at Marshawn Kneeland’s residence at 11:40 p.m. CT on Wednesday night. However, they did not make contact with anyone at the residence.
Later on Thursday, Harris revealed Kneeland’s death was caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Texas Department of Public Safety released a statement on Kneeland’s cause of death.
“Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on the northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Blvd,” the statement read. “The driver refused to stop, resulting in a pursuit with DPS Troopers. However, DPS Troopers lost sight of the vehicle, and the pursuit was terminated.
“The vehicle was later located abandoned and had been involved in a crash on the southbound lanes of Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway. DPS Aircraft and Troopers, along with the Frisco Police Department, searched the immediate area and found the driver, 24 YOA, Marshawn Kneeland, of Plano, deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
TMZ separately reported it had obtained dispatch audio from the Plano Police Department. Kneeland had reportedly messaged his girlfriend a goodbye message, leading to a search for the DE. Kneeland’s girlfriend also reportedly said Kneeland was armed. Per
The NFL also reportedly reached out to the Plano PD, requesting their help in checking on Kneeland who was “texting his family goodbye.” TMZ wrote the Plano PD used dogs, drones and other extensive measures in its search for Kneeland.
Kneeland was only in his second season in the NFL. The Cowboys selected Kneeland with the No. 56 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. In his debut campaign in the NFL, Kneeland made 11 appearances and one start. He recorded 14 tackles, a pass deflection and a fumble recovery.
Kneeland had stepped into a larger role for the Cowboys this season. Despite missing two games due to injury, Kneeland had already made three starts.
In total, he recorded 15 tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries in his seven appearances this season. Kneeland scored the Cowboys’ first touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals on Monday after recovering a blocked punt in the end zone. The Cowboys went on to lose the game, 27-17.
Kneeland played college football at Western Michigan from 2019-23. In his final season with the program, he was named an All-MAC Second-Team selection. On Thursday, Kneeland’s agent, Jon Perzley, released a statement in the wake of his client’s death.
“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night. 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. My heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him,” Perzley wrote.
Major ‘Issues’ Continue to Follow Former Commanders No. 2 Overall Pick
More than a few eyebrows were raised when the New Orleans Saints decided to drop a bag on edge rusher Chase Young this offseason with a 3-year, $51 million free agent contract.
Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Washington Commanders, received a significant raise over the 1-year, $13 million contract he played on with the Saints in 2024 and did so by being pretty average with 31 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 8 TFL but did have a career high 21 QB hits.
What Young has given back to the Saints in return to this point seems more on brand with how the rest of his career has gone — he was set to miss a fourth consecutive game with a calf injury for the winless Saints in Week 4 and has yet to play this season.
“Whatever the best case scenario for the Saints and what they expected (from Young), it ain’t that,” Locked On Saints host Ross Jackson said on his official X account. ” … When you are the top paid edge rusher and the biggest, best player on defense and you’re expected to be out there and you’re not that’s going to cause some frustration and going to cause some issues. So I don’t play anybody for being frustrated about that.”
Young’s entire career has been a study in frustration, beginning with his time with the Commanders/
Young Seemed Like Future of Franchise at One Point
The Commanders thought they’d drafted a generational talent when they took Young with the No. 2 overall pick in 2020. There’s some irony in that he was taken behind quarterback Joe Burrow to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 1 overall — 2 players who have seen their careers defined by injury more than anything else.
Young started off his NFL career like a Man on Fire with a career highs in tackles (44), sacks (7.5), TFL (10), forced fumbles (4), fumble recoveries (3) and pass deflections (4) as a rookie. That year, he was selected to the Pro Bowl, won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and even led the Commanders to a rare playoff berth.
Following a torn ACL suffered in Week 10 of the 2021 regular season, Young missed 22 of the next 25 regular-season games, including all but 3 games in 2022.
Young revamped his career in 2023 with 7.5 sacks while playing for both the Commanders and the San Francisco 49ers after a midseason trade and was a role player as the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl.
Saints Called Out For Paying Young Big Money
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox put Young’s new deal at the top of his list of the NFL’s “Biggest Contract Blunders” in the 2025 offseason.
In 5 seasons, Young has never finished in the Top 25 in the NFL in sacks.
“t was strange to see Young get that sort of deal this offseason following another good-not-great season,” Knox wrote on July 21. “What made this a poor decision by New Orleans, though, was its cap situation … Given Young’s injury history and the state of the Saints franchise, his extension represented a very unnecessary risk. Young is only 26 years old and still has the potential to develop into a dependable starter, but New Orleans’ money would have been better spent elsewhere.”
