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Key Points Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has died at 24, just days after scoring his first NFL touchdown. The Texas Department of Public Safety says Kneeland was found dead after a late-night incident in Frisco, with the medical examiner still reviewing the cause. Kneeland’s agent and team remembered him as a hardworking, beloved teammate whose heart and spirit defined his short NFL career. Marshawn Kneeland was grit, power, and heart. The 24-year-old defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys had fought his way from small-town Michigan to the biggest stage in football, earning his first NFL touchdown just days ago. Fans were still cheering for him when word spread that he had died. It didn’t feel real. But on Thursday, November 6, the organization confirmed the news. “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the Texas team said in a statement. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.” Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on 𝕏 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 Shortly after, his agent, Jonathan Perzley, shared a statement that was later posted on X by NFL insider Ian Rapoport. “I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night,” Perzley said. Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on 𝕏 He went on to explain that Kneeland had “fought his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,” and that he “poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field.” Perzley added that losing someone with Kneeland’s “talent, spirit, and goodness” was a pain he could “hardly put into words,” saying his heart breaks for the player’s family, teammates, and everyone who loved him. He ended the message asking fans and media to give Kneeland’s loved ones “the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this tremendous loss.” 🍳 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & fun food news in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳 As for how Kneeland died, officials say it followed a late-night incident in Frisco, Texas. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, troopers tried to stop a vehicle on the Dallas North Tollway around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. The driver fled, the car was later found crashed and abandoned, and a short time later, Kneeland was reportedly discovered nearby with what investigators described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
