Dallas Cowboys star Marshawn Kneeland died suddenly and unexpectedly at age 24, the team announced on Thursday.
According to The NY Times, Marshawn died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after crashing his vehicle following a police chase.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said in a statement. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. pic.twitter.com/4kowniiC0c
— NFL (@NFL) November 6, 2025
The second-year defensive end died just days after he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown in Monday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals. It was the only touchdown of his NFL career.
This was Marshawn Kneeland on Monday night — recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown, living his dream.
Just a few days later… he’s gone.
So, so heartbreaking. ? pic.twitter.com/k4S4gh2P8y https://t.co/0YmjttsSwo
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 6, 2025
Marshawn was drafted by the Cowboys in the second-round out of Western Michigan in 2024.
He is the second Cowboys player to die during the season in recent years. In 2012, Cowboys linebacker Jerry Brown died in a car crash.
As Marshawn prepared for the NFL draft in 2024, his mother, Wendy, unexpectedly died suddenly.
“It was tough, it still is, but I know at the end of the day the thing that gets me through it is she spent all her life trying to get me to go here and supported me as much as she could to get me to the NFL,” he told WZZM 13 at the time.
Marshawn wore his mother’s ashes in a pendant around his neck.
With the 56th pick the Dallas Cowboys have selected Marshawn Kneeland! @wzzm13 pic.twitter.com/SS6lwJ458p
— Jacob Seus (@Jacob_Seus) April 27, 2024
