Marshawn Kneeland
No. 94
Position Defensive end
Personal information
Born (2001-07-08)July 8, 2001
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Died November 6, 2025(2025-11-06) (aged 24)[1][2]
Frisco, Texas, U.S.
Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight 268 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school Godwin Heights (Wyoming, Michigan)
College Western Michigan (2019–2023)
NFL draft 2024: 2nd round, 56th overall pick
Career history
  • Dallas Cowboys (2024–2025)
Awards and highlights
  • Second-team All-MAC (2023)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles 26
Sacks 1.0
Fumble recoveries 1
Pass deflections 1
Touchdowns 1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Marshawn Kneeland (July 8, 2001 – November 6, 2025) was an American professional football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played two seasons with the Cowboys until his death in November 2025. Kneeland played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos, earning second-team Mid-American Conference (MAC) honors in 2023, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.

On November 6, 2025, Kneeland was found dead from a gunshot wound following a police pursuit hours prior. His death is being investigated as a suicide.

Early life

Marshawn Kneeland was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on July 8, 2001.[3][4] He attended Godwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan.[5] He played linebacker and tight end in high school.[6] As a senior, he had 110 tackles and eight sacks on defense and 20 receptions for 330 yards and five touchdowns on offense. He committed to Western Michigan University to play college football.[7]

College career

Kneeland played for the Broncos at Western Michigan University from 2019 to 2023.[8][9][10] He was a second-team All-MAC selection in 2023.[11] During his career, he had 149 tackles and 12.5 sacks. He recorded three pass deflections and three forced fumbles.[12] Despite not being heavily recruited out of high school, Kneeland became a desirable prospect for the NFL and he received an invitation to NFL Scouting Combine.[13]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wingspan 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)		 267 lb
(121 kg)		 34+1⁄2 in
(0.88 m)		 9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 6 ft 11+3⁄8 in
(2.12 m)		 4.75 s 1.66 s 2.77 s 4.18 s 7.02 s 35.5 in
(0.90 m)		 9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)		 21 reps
All values from NFL Combine[14][15]

Kneeland was selected 56th overall in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

2024 season

He made his debut against the Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024.[12] In his rookie season, he appeared in 11 games, recording 14 tackles.[16] During his rookie season, Kneeland suffered a right knee injury that was almost considered season-ending. He was attempting to sack quarterback Justin Fields on the play before being injured.[17] The injury required arthroscopic surgery.[18]

2025 season

During training camp before his sophomore season, Kneeland was named as a possible breakout star on the Cowboys,[18] intercepting quarterback Dak Prescott in a clip shared on Twitter.[19] In October, Kneeland was listed on the injury report with a possibly practice-related ankle injury.[20] In Week 9, three days before his death, Kneeland scored his only NFL touchdown after recovering a blocked punt in the end zone against the Arizona Cardinals.[21]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR TD
2024 DAL 11 1 14 9 5 0.0 0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0
2025 DAL 7 3 12 6 6 1.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 18 4 26 15 11 1.0 0 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 0

Personal life and death

Kneeland's mother died unexpectedly of an undisclosed illness in February 2024, two months before he was drafted by the Cowboys. Kneeland carried his mother's ashes with him in a necklace at all times.[22] Tennessee Titans defensive back Mike Brown is a cousin of Kneeland.[23]

Kneeland lived in Plano, Texas.[24] He died in Frisco, Texas, on November 6, 2025, at the age of 24, during his second season in the NFL.[24] On the same date, the Texas Department of Public Safety reported that Kneeland had been involved in a 160 mph police pursuit the previous night after he did not stop for a traffic violation. The chase was terminated after officers lost sight of his vehicle.[25] His girlfriend Catalina Mancera then told police that he was armed, had a history of mental illness, and would "end it all." According to police, they responded to a "welfare concern" at Kneeland's apartment complex, but nobody was home.[26] His vehicle was later discovered abandoned following a crash. According to the police, he was found dead nearby "from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound."[25] Local police are investigating his death as a potential suicide.[27]

Following his death, the Cowboys released a statement describing him as a "beloved teammate" and sending thoughts and prayers to his family.[28] It was also revealed that Catalina Mancera was pregnant with the couple's first child.[29]

See also

  • List of gridiron football players who died during their careers

References

  1. ^ "Cowboys return from bye week with heavy hearts, begin healing after Marshawn Kneeland's death - CBS Texas". www.cbsnews.com. November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  2. ^ "Cowboys return from bye mourning death of Marshawn Kneeland". Reuters. November 10, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  3. ^ "Western Michigan player Marshawn Kneeland selected by Dallas Cowboys - CBS Detroit". CBS News. April 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "Marshawn Kneeland Biography". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  5. ^ "Godwin Heights standout earns Player of the Week 7". MassLive.com. October 11, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  6. ^ "Godwin Heights senior Marshawn Kneeland a dominant force at linebacker, tight end". MassLive.com. October 1, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Kaminski, Steve (January 27, 2019). "Godwin Heights lineman Marshawn Kneeland announces college choice via video". MLive. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Nothaft, Patrick (December 22, 2022). "Ex-WMU lineman Marshawn Kneeland joins Colorado, Coach Prime via transfer portal". MLive. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  9. ^ Giannakopoulos, Alec (July 20, 2023). "Broncos' Marshawn Kneeland to stay in Kalamazoo". WOODTV.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Skol, Mark (September 5, 2023). "Godwin Heights grad Marshawn Kneeland grateful to stay at Western Michigan after hitting the transfer portal". WZZM 13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ "Marshawn Kneeland". wmubroncos.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  12. ^ a b "2025 Dallas Cowboys Media Guide" (PDF). Dallas Cowboys. 2025. p. 111. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  13. ^ Beaton, Andrew (November 7, 2025). "Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland Dies in Apparent Suicide at 24". The Wall Street Journal. p. A12.
  14. ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Marshawn Kneeland Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  15. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Marshawn Kneeland College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  16. ^ "Marshawn Kneeland 2024 Advanced Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  17. ^ Archer, Todd (October 7, 2024). "Source: Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland avoids season-ending injury". ESPN. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland: Taking advantage of opportunity". CBS Sports. Rotowire. August 6, 2025. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  19. ^ Reed, Tyler (July 22, 2025). "Marshawn Kneeland steals show in Cowboys' first training camp practice". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  20. ^ Williams, Charean (October 2, 2025). "Cowboys add DE Marshawn Kneeland to their injury report". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  21. ^ Nothaft, Patrick (November 3, 2025). "West Michigan native, Cowboys DL scores first NFL touchdown on Monday Night Football". mlive. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  22. ^ Watkins, Calvin (June 30, 2024). "Marshawn Kneeland's late mom dreamed he'd make the NFL. Now a Cowboy, he honors her memory". Dallas News. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  23. ^ Suss, Nick. "Calvin Ridley injury update: See latest on Jeffery Simmons, Titans vs Texans inactives". The Tennessean. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Dotson, Kevin (November 6, 2025). "Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland has died at age 24". CNN. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  25. ^ a b Keane, Isabel (November 6, 2025). "Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland has died at age 24". The Independent. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  26. ^ Watkins, Calvin; Landers, Jamie; Jorgensen, Elissa (November 6, 2025). "Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland dies by suicide after police chase". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  27. ^ Schuyler, Dixon; Lozano, Juan A. (November 6, 2025). "Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland found dead of apparent suicide at 24 after evading officers, police say". AP News. Retrieved November 9, 2025.
  28. ^ Eatman, Nick (November 6, 2025). "Marshawn Kneeland Passes Away at Age 24". Dallas Cowboys. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  29. ^ Sacks, Hannah (November 12, 2025). "Dallas Cowboys Player Marshawn Kneeland's Girlfriend Is Pregnant, Expecting First Baby After His Death at 24". People. Retrieved November 13, 2025.