Photo: Getty Images North America
The family of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has spoken out following his death, sharing that they are "devastated" by the loss of the late football player.
Authorities in Frisco, Texas, confirmed Kneeland, 24, died by apparent suicide after fleeing the scene of a crash. Police said they learned Kneeland had expressed suicidal thoughts before he was found on Wednesday (November 5) morning.
“We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief,” his siblings, AJ, Shawn, and Yahmya Kneeland, wrote in a joint statement, per E! News. “As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field—as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend.”
“He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.”
Prior to his death, Kneeland was reportedly grieving the loss of his mother, Wendy, who passed away when he was preparing for the NFL draft. The football player reportedly carried “the ashes of his mother, Wendy, in a vertically shaped urn, no bigger than 2 inches, on a chain around his neck," per the Dallas Morning News.
Kneeland was drafted by the Cowboys in 2024 and had recently scored his first NFL touchdown. Kneeland's agent, Jonathan Perzley, remembered him as a “dearest friend” who poured “his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field.”
“My heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him,” Perzley wrote. “I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time.”
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