Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died by apparent suicide on Thursday, November 6, 2025, following a police chase that began late the previous evening. The 24-year-old second-round draft pick was found deceased in the early morning hours after fleeing from Texas State troopers who attempted to stop him for a traffic violation.
The incident began around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5, when authorities attempted to pull over Kneeland on the Dallas North Tollway. He refused to stop, resulting in a brief pursuit that ended when troopers lost sight of his vehicle. Minutes later, officers discovered his crashed and abandoned vehicle on the southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.
Kneeland fled the crash scene on foot, prompting a search involving K9 units and drones. During the search, his girlfriend Catalina Mancera contacted police. According to dispatch audio obtained by media outlets, she told authorities Kneeland was armed and had a history of mental illness, warning that he would “end it all.” Dispatchers also reported that Kneeland had sent a group text to his family saying goodbye during the incident.
Police discovered Kneeland’s body at 1:31 a.m. on Thursday with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Frisco Police Department confirmed his death by suicide.
The Cowboys released a statement Thursday morning expressing their grief. “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Quarterback Dak Prescott spoke about the loss during a field dedication ceremony at his alma mater in Louisiana. “It started early this morning, finding out the news. Tragic loss. I hurt. Heavy, heavy heart today. I hurt for Marshawn, I hurt for his family, I hurt for his girlfriend, I hurt for every single one of my teammates,” Prescott told CBS11.
Prescott, a Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner known for his mental health advocacy through his Faith, Fight, Finish foundation, emphasized the importance of seeking help. He said the Cowboys held a team video call after learning of Kneeland’s death, telling his teammates that he loved them during the difficult moment.
Defensive tackle Solomon Thomas, who founded The Defensive Line organization aimed at ending youth suicide, posted on Instagram expressing his heartbreak. “Brother Marshawn, I love you. I wish you knew it was going to be okay. I wish you knew the pain wouldn’t last and how loved you are,” Thomas wrote.
Additional teammates shared messages of support throughout Thursday. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb posted “You just never know, sleep well brada” on Instagram, while defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa added condolences on social media.
Lou Esposito, Kneeland’s former defensive coordinator at Western Michigan University and current defensive line coach at the University of Michigan, revealed they had spoken recently. “I got to congratulate Marshawn on his first career touchdown on Monday night. My heart aches as that will be the last conversation that we have together,” Esposito said in a statement. Kneeland had recovered a blocked punt in the end zone during the Cowboys’ “Monday Night Football” game against the Arizona Cardinals on November 3, achieving what would become his final career highlight before millions of viewers.
The Cowboys were on their bye week, which had given Kneeland time to plan a trip home to Michigan. Esposito said they were planning to meet during that visit.
Kneeland’s uncle Preston told the “Dallas Morning News” his nephew was a “gentle giant” and “outstanding young man.” According to the Daily Mail, Preston said, “There’s been social media garbage about drugs, but I can tell you Marshawn hated drugs, absolutely hated them. He never smoked, he never touched alcohol and he disliked prescription medicine.”
The defensive end had experienced significant personal loss in recent years. His mother Wendy died in February 2024 from an undisclosed illness, just two months before the Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
On Sunday, November 9, the NFL held moments of silence before all games to honor Kneeland. Indianapolis Colts players took a knee in the end zone before their game against the Atlanta Falcons in Germany, while other teams displayed Kneeland’s image on jumbotrons during pre-game ceremonies.