The sudden passing of Marshawn Kneeland at just 24 and under the circumstances it did left the league shaken. The Dallas Cowboys locker room was grieving a loss that felt impossible to move on from. “We just want to continue to honor Marshawn and do everything the very best way we can,” Stephen Jones had said. And the team did honor him; they wore No. 94 decals and kept his jersey by his bench like he was still a part of the team. It became more than any number; it was his. So, imagine the surprise for many when just six months later the No. 94 of their fallen brother is set to be on another man’s back. 

Ahead of the rookie minicamp, the Cowboys have assigned No. 94, Kneeland’s number, to undrafted free agent defensive lineman Kelvin Gilliam. And this isn’t sitting well with many like Indianapolis Colts safety Juanyeh Thomas. He played with the late DE when he was at Dallas, and he reacted negatively to it.

“That 94 should have been off limits until my brother’s contract fully expired… Just don’t feel right fr…” Thomas said in an X post.

Now sure, it is likely that Gilliam will only temporarily be wearing this number. It is only a rookie minicamp; not all UDFAs eventually make it to the active roster. By that time, the No. 94 can return to being at rest. But timing matters, and seeing it reissued so soon after Kneeland’s passing struck a nerve that statistics and roster logic couldn’t soften.

Kneeland had only just begun his journey in the league. He was a second-round pick in 2024 and had played just seven games in the 2025 season before his life was cut short in Frisco, Texas. According to reports, he was involved in a high-speed police pursuit before later being found dead. Authorities reported a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his death was being investigated at that time as a suicide. Plus, the number Kneeland donned was something he cherished immensely. 

Some of the franchise’s most iconic defensive players have donned the number, including Hall of Famers DeMarcus Ware and Charles Haley. And Kneeland wanted to outperform everybody who had ever worn it on their jerseys. He wanted to add to the legacy and eventually “retire” it by the end of his career. Those words sit heavy today. Kneeland never got a chance to live those dreams.

Now, the Cowboys also have a unique tradition when it comes to jersey numbers. Unlike some other franchises, they don’t formally retire numbers. Instead, they let them return to circulation over time. They are among five teams to practice this method. Michael Irvin’s No. 88 is worn by wide receiver CeeDee Lamb today.

However, there are some numbers that Dallas doesn’t hand out anymore, like Emmitt Smith’s No. 22. But since Kneeland left this world on such a painful note, the Cowboys could extend his loved ones the grace of keeping his memory alive by including 94 on this list as well. As for the team, they felt deeply for their fallen brother, and they did more than just express through words.

No. 94 was never just a jersey; it was a teammate they lost

What made the No. 94 more than just a jersey was how deeply it lived inside that locker room. The reactions from his teammates said it all. They were emotional, personal, and simply reflected the bond that they carried. DeMarvion Overshown talked about how the locker room couldn’t find its balance days after the incident. That players were in and out of sadness trying to process it all. The keeping of Kneeland’s jersey was not just a tribute; it was so the players too feel that their brother is still part of every snap. 

Then there was Osa Odighizuwa, who, after the Cowboys’ first win after the tragedy, was seen carrying Kneeland’s jersey back to the locker room, emotional, holding it carefully, and refusing to let it touch the ground. Dak Prescott, who himself has been an advocate of mental health after losing his own brother, was visibly shaken as he tried to put the loss into words. 

“I hurt for Marshawn. I hurt for his family. I hurt for his girlfriend. I hurt for every single one of my teammates. This is a pain you don’t wish upon anybody. You wish none of us had to go through with this. You wish Marshawn didn’t have to go through what he went through. Just thankful for each moment we have in this life, and don’t take it for granted. Hug and love on those that you do.” And beyond words, they went ahead to support his family.

The Cowboys established a memorial fund for his girlfriend and their unborn child. They showed that their responsibilities didn’t end with simply a tribute on a game day. They stood by Kneeland’s family.