Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, broke her silence four days after the Dallas Cowboys player died at the age of 24.
Mancera took to Facebook on Monday, November 10, to share a photo of herself and Kneeland. “My sweet baby, words could never express how broken I feel, you’re my everything. I’ll love you forever my beautiful angel,” she wrote alongside a white heart emoji.
Shortly after Mancera shared the post, several of her friends and family took to the comments section to share their support. “Love you cat. he is always with you. praying for you and thinking of you so much. and for his family and your family,” one person wrote, while another chimed in, “Marshawn will always be with you. You could see the love you shared so deeply!”
On Wednesday, November 12, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed in a press conference that Mancera is pregnant with Kneeland’s child.
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“We want to make sure she’s taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives,” Schottenheimer, 52, said during the press conference, according to People.
Authorities confirmed that Kneeland died by suicide following a police chase that took place late on November 5.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation around 10:33 p.m., according to police. Dallas News reported that the driver refused to stop and they eventually lost sight of the vehicle. Later that night, authorities found the abandoned car on the southbound lanes of Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.
It was initially reported that Kneeland fled the scene on foot, and officers recruited the help of K-9 and drone units to search the area for him. DPS troopers and Frisco police eventually found Kneeland dead at about 1:31 a.m. on November 6 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the outlet.
Prior to his passing, Plano Police Department officers responded to a “welfare concern” at an address associated with Kneeland. However, spokesperson Jerry Minton said they were unable to make contact with him before the car chase.
Kneeland was a professional football player in the NFL, and he was a second-round pick for the Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft. He died just days after the Cowboys lost to the Arizona Cardinals during a Monday Night Football game on November 3.
The Cowboys confirmed that Kneeland had died in a statement on November 6.
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“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said in a statement obtained by 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.”
Kneeland’s family also addressed the tragic situation in a statement.
“We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief,” the family said, according to 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.”
