Blogging The Boys
Editor Note: We’re all still processing the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland. You can view the reported details of what happened here, and we will cover any news-worthy developments down the road if there are any. If you are struggling with any mental health issues, visit here for resources to help. We are now returning to our regular coverage of the Dallas Cowboys season.
Rest in peace Marshawn Kneeland.
The Cowboys woke up Thursday morning to the worst news imaginable, learning of the tragic death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
The organization issued a statement at 8:35 a.m. on Kneeland’s passing:
“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 organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Kneeland, just 24 years of age, was in the middle of his second season with the team. He just scored his first career touchdown three days ago in the Monday Night loss to the Cardinals when he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone.
A second-round pick (56th overall) out of Western Michigan, Kneeland had played in seven of nine games this year, recording one sack and 15 tackles and six QB pressures.
As a rookie in 2024, Kneeland missed six games due to injury, but still played in 11 games with one start.
From those who knew him.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Marshawn,” former Western Michigan coach Tim Lester, now the offensive coordinator at Iowa, said in a statement. “He was a great teammate and a joy to coach. His smile, work ethic, and heart touched so many.”
The latter part of Lester’s statement was something shared by many on Thursday. If Kneeland’s on-field trademark was his work ethic, then his off-field one was his smile. It was infectious. It was energetic.
“The first thing you think of when we first got him in the ‘24 draft, at rookie minicamp, he was immediately just a fantastic energy,” said former Cowboys special teams coach John Fassel, who spent last year with Kneeland. “You could tell there was great leadership qualities. And these aren’t things you just say after someone passes. These are things that are real and I would say about him right now if he just had a great game and was still around. He was magnetic with his personality, where he was hard-working and tough, and it was just a fantastic combination of all the right things. Which makes this honestly even more tragic, just because of the person that he was.”
“I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to...
