DALLAS, United States – Marshawn Kneeland, a second-year defensive end for the National Football League’s (NFL) Dallas Cowboys, has died at the age of 24 in what authorities are investigating as an apparent suicide. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, November 6, 2025, following a police pursuit in Frisco, Texas.

In a statement released on Thursday morning, the Frisco Police Department detailed the events leading to the discovery. At approximately 10:39 PM local time on Wednesday, November 5 (7:39 AM EAT, Thursday), Frisco police were called to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in locating a vehicle that had evaded troopers. The vehicle was found crashed and abandoned minutes later.

According to the police, initial reports indicated that the driver, later identified as Kneeland, had fled the scene on foot, prompting a multi-agency search involving K-9 units and drones. During the search, officers received information that Kneeland had “expressed suicidal ideations.” He was found deceased at approximately 1:31 AM on Thursday (10:31 AM EAT) from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the official cause and manner of death. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

A Promising Career Cut Short

Kneeland, born July 8, 2001, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was a rising talent in the league. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan University, where he had earned second-team All-MAC conference honors in 2023. In his professional career, he played in 18 games, recording 26 tackles and one sack. Just days before his death, on Monday, November 3, Kneeland scored his first career touchdown by recovering a blocked punt in a game against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Dallas Cowboys organization expressed its sorrow in a statement on Thursday morning: “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organisation. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

Tributes also came from his agent, Jonathan Perzley, and his college coach, Lance Taylor, who remembered him as a remarkable young man with unmatched passion. The NFL and the NFL Players Association also released statements of condolence and confirmed that counseling and support resources have been offered to the Cowboys' players and staff.

Global Issue, Local Resonance

While American football has a developing but niche following in Kenya, Kneeland's death highlights a universal and urgent issue: the mental health of elite athletes. The immense public pressure, physical demands, and psychological stress inherent in professional sports create a high-risk environment. This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of mental wellness support systems within sporting communities worldwide, including for Kenya’s own celebrated athletes in fields like long-distance running and football.

The NFL has established several programs aimed at player wellness, including the NFL Life Line, a 24/7 confidential crisis line, and a joint committee with the NFL Players Association to develop mental health resources. These initiatives aim to de-stigmatize seeking help and provide accessible support for players and their families. The league's efforts reflect a broader, albeit slow, shift in global sports culture towards prioritizing mental health alongside physical conditioning.

The circumstances of Kneeland's death underscore the critical need for continued dialogue and robust support structures to protect the well-being of young people navigating the extraordinary pressures of the global sports stage. Further details from the official investigation are awaited.