More details are being revealed by authorities in the death of Dallas Cowboys tight end and Grand Rapids native Marshawn Kneeland, 24, with a police chase leading up to the incident and the NFL team calling Kneeland’s passing “tragic.”
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” a statement from the team Thursday read. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
About 10:39 p.m., police in Frisco, Texas responded to assistant the Texas Department of Public Safety with locating a vehicle that they say had evaded troopers during a pursuit that entered the city. According to the TDPS, the pursuit was related to troopers attempting to stop the driver for a traffic violation on the Dallas North Tollway.
Minutes after troopers lost sight of the vehicle, it was found crashed and abandoned on Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway, police said, not far from the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters in Frisco.
Initial reports indicated that the subject of the pursuit was Kneeland, who had fled the scene on foot. Officers then established a perimeter and initiated a search of the area using Drone and K-9 units.
Over the course of the search, officers received information that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations. Kneeland was later located at 1:31 a.m., deceased, with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The cause and manner of death will be determined by the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office, police said.
Plano Police officers confirmed to NBC that they had responded to a call for a welfare concern to an address associated with Kneeland at approximately 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, but made no contact with anyone at the residence.
“At this time, no further details will be released as the investigation remains ongoing,” Frisco police said.
Jonathan Perzley, Kneeland’s agent, released a statement on Thursday morning, saying Kneeland was a dear friend who poured his heart into becoming an NFL player.
“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night. I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,” Perzley said. “Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words. My heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time. I ask that you please give his loved ones the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this tremendous loss.”
Kneeland, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan. In 18 games, 11 in 2024 and seven this season, the defensive lineman had four QB hits, a sack and 26 tackles (15 solo and 11 assists).
Kneeland scored his first NFL touchdown on Monday night when he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone during the Cowboys’ loss to the Cardinals.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or go to 988lifeline.org, to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
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