FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys defensive finish Marshawn Kneeland died Thursday morning from an obvious self-inflicted gunshot, in accordance with regulation authorities.
The workforce put out an announcement Thursday however didn’t point out a reason behind loss of life.
“It’s with excessive unhappiness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically handed away this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our group. Our ideas and prayers concerning Marshawn are along with his girlfriend Catalina and his household.”
Kneeland was 24.
The Cowboys have made counseling sources accessible to all gamers, coaches and workers. The gamers are on their bye week and are usually not scheduled to observe once more till Monday.
In keeping with Frisco (Texas) Police, the division responded to help the Texas Division of Public Security with finding a automobile that evaded troopers throughout a pursuit that entered the town at roughly 10:39 p.m. CT Wednesday.
DPS troopers discovered Kneeland’s automobile crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway close to Warren Parkway. In keeping with the report, Kneeland fled the scene on foot and officers searched the world with assist from Ok-9 and drone items.
Roughly three hours later, Kneeland was discovered with what gave the impression to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In the course of the course of the search, officers obtained data that Kneeland “expressed suicidal ideations,” in accordance with the report.
Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, described his loss of life as “a ache I can hardly put into phrases.”
“I’m shattered to verify that my shopper and dearest pal Marshawn Kneeland handed away final night time,” Perzley mentioned in an announcement. “I watched him combat his means from a hopeful child at Western Michigan with a dream to being a revered skilled for the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn poured his coronary heart into each snap, each observe, and each second on the sphere. To lose somebody along with his expertise, spirit and goodness is a ache I can hardly put into phrases.
“My coronary heart aches for his household, his teammates and everybody who liked him, and I hope they really feel the assist of your entire soccer group throughout this unimaginable time. I ask that you just please give his family members the privateness and compassion they want as they grieve this large loss.”
The NFL issued an announcement saying it was “deeply saddened” by Kneeland’s loss of life, including the league has “supplied assist and counseling sources” to the Cowboys.
Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor mentioned in an announcement: “My coronary heart is totally damaged over the lack of Marshawn Kneeland. Marshawn was a lot greater than an unimaginable soccer participant — he was a exceptional younger man who meant a lot to our program and to me personally. His management, power, and smile have been infectious, and he left a long-lasting affect on everybody in our program. Having coached him throughout my first season right here, we developed a particular bond that went far past soccer. His ardour for all times and his teammates have been unmatched. Our whole Bronco Soccer household is devastated, and we ship our deepest prayers to his household, teammates, and all who liked him. Marshawn will perpetually be part of the Bronco brotherhood.”
Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round select of Western Michigan in 2024, No. 56 general. In Monday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he scored the Cowboys’ first landing, recovering a blocked punt ultimately zones.
He missed two video games this season with damage and was credited with 15 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss and 6 quarterback hurries. As a rookie, he missed six video games with a knee damage and had 17 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback pressures, 1 move breakup and 1 fumble restoration.
Greg Ellis coached Kneeland final 12 months as an assistant on the Cowboys’ workers. He remained involved with him and texted him earlier than the season began.
“He epitomized what you search for in a soccer participant,” Ellis mentioned. “He performed the sport exhausting. He was desperate to study. You hear numerous issues about this technology, however that wasn’t Marshawn. He was nonetheless a, ‘Sure, sir. No, sir,’ form of man. He wished further assist with issues That was him. Further stuff, research movie.”
When the Cowboys chosen Kneeland, his enjoying model was in comparison with that of Ellis, who was Dallas’ first-round decide in 1998 and had 77 sacks in 11 seasons with the workforce. “I want I’d’ve or may’ve achieved extra to assist him in different areas of his life,” Ellis mentioned.
Kneeland set data for tackles, sacks and tackles for loss at Godwin Heights Excessive College in Wyoming, Michigan, earlier than attending Western Michigan. In 38 collegiate video games. He had 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 3 compelled fumbles and three move deflections. He was a second-team All-Mid-American Convention decide in 2023, ending with 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks and seven.5 tackles for loss in 9 video games.
The Cowboys have handled in-season tragedy in recent times. In 2012, linebacker Jerry Brown died in a automobile accident wherein teammate Josh Brent was driving. In 2020, energy and conditioning coach Markus Paul handed away the day earlier than a recreation after experiencing a medical emergency.