FRISCO – How do we explain the inexplicable? How do we utilize reason and logic to help understand the unreasonable and the illogical?

A promising young member of the Dallas Cowboys, defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, is dead at the age of 24, with officials saying Thursday that the tragedy is the result of suicide.

Per TMZ, “The girlfriend said Kneeland was armed and had a history of mental issues … and she was quoted saying he would ‘end it all’.

“The dispatch also stated the NFL called Plano PD regarding one of its players … stating the “subject is texting his family goodbye.”

Kneeland was involved in a pursuit  around 10:39 p.m. but somehow evaded police after an attempt to pull him over for a traffic violation. Officers eventually found the vehicle later, crashed on the Dallas Parkway, and concluded that he left the scene on foot.

At about 1:30 p.m., Kneeland’s body was located inside a portable toilet with what police say is an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization,” the Cowboys said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

The organization’s view of the player and person? Smart and classy, which follows my personal experience with the Western Michigan product, who came to Dallas as a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words,” said agent and friend Jonathan Perzley.

A franchise that has dealt with tragedy too often

Sadly, the Cowboys have had many tragedies to deal with through the years, some related to mental-health issues.

–  In the early ’90’s, they won three Super Bowls while working with future Hall-of-Famer Charles Haley as he struggled with such challenges.

–  In 2012, linebacker Jerry Brown died in a car accident in which teammate Josh Brent was driving. The team learned of the news while on a plane bound for Cincinnati the Saturday night before they were to take on the Bengals. I was on that plane.

Brown was a practice squad player, but Brent was a key player. The team was depleted at nose tackle and Brent was the only truly healthy player at that spot, so him not being on the plane was something I noticed. I had gotten a text from a law-enforcement friend saying Brent was in trouble and I broke that story while sitting on the tarmac, which brought me no particular joy.

The game was played the next day, with the Cowboys winning, 20-19.

“First of all we all know, but we remind ourselves that there is something more important than football, and this is life and certainly the lost life of Jerry,” team owner Jerry Jones said after the game. “On the other hand, they know the best way they can honor Jerry, because he was such a hard worker, so conscientious and enthusiastic about his career.”

The team went 1-2 after that to finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs.

– After a Week 11 win in Atlanta in 2018, the team received word that the brother of wide receiver Michael Gallup had committed suicide. It was a homecoming for Gallup to return his native Atlanta, and fortunately, his sister was on hand to deliver the news in person to Gallup after the game.

Gallup did not miss a game — including the next game just four days later. The team went 5-1 to finish the regular season 10-6. He had a touchdown catch in the team’s Wild Card win before Dallas fell in the divisional round, 30-22, to the Rams. Gallup had his best statistical output of the year, six catches for 119 yards, in the loss.

– In April 2020, Dak Prescott’s brother Jace died by suicide, causing the Cowboys QB to launch the Faith Fight Finish Foundation, which encourages those dealing with mental health crises to ask for help. Prescott went public about his struggles with anxiety and depression after Jace’s death.

Dak’s program and his courage in speaking out about mental health was a key moment across all sports in both players and leagues evolving their public and organizational approach to mental health issues.

– Later that year, during the 2020 season, assistant coach Markus Paul passed away the day before a Week 12 game after experiencing a medical emergency. Paul was in his third season with the team when the tragedy occurred. The team lost to Washington in a Thursday night game, but rebounded to win three of their final five games to finish the season 6-10.

How to find the strength to move forward

Today, the Cowboys and the NFL have made counseling resources available to all players, coaches and staff.

Just days ago, in Dallas’ 27-17 Monday Night Football loss to Arizona at AT&T Stadium, Kneeland provided a highlight as he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his first career NFL touchdown.

How could Kneeland – who appeared in 18 games with four starts across nearly two seasons, recording 26 tackles and one sack – follow up such a high with the most tragic of lows?

Kneeland was always very open with me about having been devastated by the death of his mother, Wendy, just before he was drafted. He happily told the story of how he honored her by wearing her ashes in a necklace after draft day, carrying her memory with him as he realized the dream they shared.

Could that be what haunted him?

“It was definitely tough,” Kneeland said of her passing. “I just managed it. She helped me a lot in my younger years getting into football. I always had the dream.

“I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL’ and I made it.”

It’s hard in these times to talk football, but the reality is that the season will go on. The team is in a crucial period of trying to remain a playoff contender. In that context, the organization will have time during a bye week to process the unimaginable grief flooding over them.

They will be fortunate to have someone like Prescott who had to deal with the suicide of the brother he described as his second heartbeat. The coming days will bring a level of crippling pain that most players will have never experienced.

To have a leader who not only experienced it but was also a vocal leader in dealing with it head-on will be a crucial asset in finding peace in this tragedy. We pray that the players will give themselves the grace to heal.

And when ready, to gain the inner strength to return to the field, emboldened to win for their fallen teammate.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.