Marshawn Kneeland died at the age of 24 while he was in the middle of the 2025 NFL season playing for the Dallas Cowboys. In light of his passing, Life & Style shares everything to know about the late professional athlete and his death.
Who Is Marshawn Kneeland?
Kneeland was a professional football player in the NFL. After he played at Western Michigan University, he was a second-round pick for the Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft.
The defensive end played 18 games while on the Cowboys, in which he made 26 tackles and had one sack.
Kneeland passed away just days after the Cowboys played a Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals. During the game, Kneeland showed off his talents as he recovered a blocked punt in the second quarter that led the team to score a touchdown.
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Marshawn Kneeland Died at the Age of 24
The Cowboys confirmed Kneeland’s passing at the age of 24 on Thursday, November 6.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said in a statement to People. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
His agent, Jonathan Perzley, also confirmed Kneeland’s passing in a social media statement shared by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Perzley said he was “shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night.”
Additionally, Kneeland’s family issued a statement about the tragic situation.
“We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief,” the family said, per the Dallas News. “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.”
How Did Marshawn Kneeland Die?
Authorities confirmed that Kneeland died by suicide following a police chase.
The Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation around 10:33 p.m. on November 5, per the Frisco police.
The driver refused to stop, and the troopers pursued the car until they lost sight of him, according to the Dallas News. Authorities later found the abandoned car, which had been involved in a crash on the southbound lanes of Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.
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Police said that initial reports showed that Kneeland fled the scene on foot, and officers recruited the help of K-9 and drone units to search the area.
According to the outlet, DPS troopers and Frisco police found Kneeland dead at about 1:31 a.m. on November 6 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Plano Police Department spokesperson Jerry Minton said Plano officers responded to a “welfare concern” at an address associated with Kneeland hours earlier, though they were unable to make contact with him.
