Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, just 24 years old, was found dead early Thursday morning (November 6) after what police say was an apparent suicide. According to Frisco police, the tragedy happened late Wednesday night after Kneeland evaded a traffic stop by Texas state troopers. Officers said they began a short chase, but soon lost sight of his vehicle, which was later found crashed.

Kneeland then ran away from the scene on foot. About three hours after the crash, officers found Marshawn Kneeland dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This shocked the entire NFL nation, as the Eagles‘ offensive tackle Lane Johnson came forward to show support for the fellow NFL player.

“YOU ARE NOT ALONE! 🙏,” he wrote on X.

According to the reports, while police were searching for him, dispatchers said Kneeland’s friends and girlfriend, Catalina, told officers they were worried for his safety. Some people close to him received a group text saying goodbye. Catalina warned police that he might be armed and suicidal and had a history of mental illness.

The shocking news came just over 48 hours after Kneeland scored his first career touchdown, recovering a blocked punt against the Arizona Cardinals in the week 9 game. Kneeland was in his second NFL season, drafted by Dallas in the second round in 2024 out of Western Michigan University. This season, he has recorded 12 tackles (6 solo) and 1 sack. As a rookie, he posted 14 tackles (9 solo) and a fumble recovery despite missing time with a knee injury. He was a hard worker with strong character and was passionate about football.

“To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words. My heart aches for his family, teammates, and everyone who loved him,” His agent, Jonathan Perzley, said in a statement.

Kneeland’s mother, Wendy, died suddenly just two months before the NFL Draft, and he carried her ashes in a necklace everywhere he went. But no one expected this tragic scenario. NFL players and coaches around the league expressed grief on the news. They even used the moment to speak up about mental health and suicide awareness.

“Even when someone’s carrying the biggest smile, check in on them. You never know what they’re going through,” Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons wrote on X, just like Johnson, who has a history of mental health struggles on the paternal side of his family.

Earlier in 2023, Johnson revealed that his grandfather had died by suicide when his father was just a baby. But he made it clear that wasn’t what he was thinking about the day he drove off.

He said, “[My thought] was never suicide…My thing was to stop the pressure of what I was feeling from my job. I felt like my body was shutting down, and I couldn’t do what I normally do. And so I was over that…I’ve never had any siblings, so being in a locker room, those guys are my brothers. I can tell from body language, I can tell from a lot of stuff that people are not doing good. So my thing is to just talk to them.”

The NFL also released a statement saying it was offering counseling and support to the Cowboys and anyone affected by the tragedy. His death reminded football fans of a similar incident months ago.

Marshawn Kneeland’s demise makes Kyren Lacy’s mother emotional again

The mother of late LSU football player Kyren Lacy shared an emotional message after learning about the death of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who also died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. On Thursday, Kandace Faye, Lacy’s mother, took to Instagram to express her heartbreak and compassion for Kneeland’s family. She shared a picture of the 24-year-old Cowboys player.

“Damn it!!!!! 💔💔💔💔💔 🥺🥺😭😭😭😭😭 PLEASE YALL PLEASE KNOW YALL MATTER!!! JESUS CHRIST HELP US!!!!,” she wrote.

Faye also sent her “prayers, love, and condolences” to Kneeland’s loved ones. The post struck a deep emotional chord because Faye lost her own son, Kyren Lacy, just a few months earlier in April. Lacy, also 24, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after reportedly leading police on a chase in Houston while facing legal charges related to a fatal car accident.

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At the time of his death, Lacy was dealing with felony hit-and-run and negligent charges after allegedly fleeing the scene of a crash that killed a 78-year-old man, Herman Hall. His attorney later disputed the charges, arguing that video evidence contradicted the official investigation.

Marshawn Kneeland’s death, while unrelated to any criminal case, shares haunting similarities with Lacy’s. Both were young, talented football players who had shown promise before their lives ended in tragedy. This has once again brought attention to the mental health struggles athletes face. There is an urgent need for more open conversations about depression, pressure, and emotional support.

His teammates, Dak Prescott and Solomon Thomas, both have foundations that focus on suicide prevention, after losing siblings to suicide. It’s time to use them more actively now.