Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead at his apartment on โคThursday, according to police, in what appears to be a suicide. He was 24 years old. The Cowboys confirmed the tragic passing of the second-year player, who was drafted in 2023 after a standoutโข career at Western Michigan.
Kneeland’s death โขhas โprompted an outpouring of grief and a renewed focus onโ mental โคhealth within the NFL community. Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery simmons urged โfans to check in on loved ones,โ writing on X, “Even when someone is carrying the biggest smile, make sure to just check in on them. โYou just never know man. Don’t be afraid toโข ask for โคhelp, we all โคgo through thingsโ that weโค sometimesโข hide!”
Kneeland was a second-round pick โคby the Cowboys in the 2023 NFL Draft, selected โขone year โฃafter defensive end Sam Williams. โHeโ made an immediate impact, blocking aโ punt recovered by Kneeland against the โคArizona Cardinals. In nine games this past season, Kneeland recorded a career-high 57 โขtackles andโ 4.5 sacks.
Theโฃ young player endured personalโฃ tragedy prior to his professional career, losing his mother, Wendy Kneeland, shortly before the draft. He carried her ashes in a necklace after joining the cowboys, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
Miami โDolphins receivers coach Robert Prince, who coached Kneeland during his rookie season with the Cowboys, expressed โฃhis sorrow, recalling their conversations in the weight room and shared โconnection to Michigan. “Good kid. I’m sorry โto hear that about him,” Prince said.
Western Michigan coachโ Lance โขTaylor remembered Kneeland’s infectious energy and leadership, stating, “His leadership, energy โขand smile were infectious, and he left a lasting impact on everyone in our program.”
The NFL released a statement saying it was “deeply saddened” and had offered support โคand counseling resources โto the โขCowboys. Two of Kneeland’s Cowboys teammates, quarterback Dak Prescott and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas, have personal experience with the pain of sibling loss by suicide and lead foundations โdedicated to suicide awareness and โprevention. Thomas’ โขsister, Ella, was the same age as Kneeland.