Total Pro Sports
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland tragically died on November 6. Kneeland was in the midst of his second season with the Cowboys when he tragically decided to take his own life.
In his second season, he recorded his first NFL sack and scored a touchdown. Days later, he had committed suicide following a police chase. His passing just made his family even more saddened. Kneeland’s mother, Wendy, died in February 2024, two months before he was drafted into the NFL.
The Cowboys wore a special helmet decal for the rest of the season to honor Kneeland. They also started the “Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund” in part to help Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina, who is pregnant.
The Cowboys received an outpouring of support following the death of 24-year-old defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
Juanyeh Thomas received something entirely different in the days following his suicide. He blasted the fan base for caring more about the defense than their feelings at the time. Months later, he is much calmer speaking about the tragedy.
The Cowboys’ backup safety was close with Marshawn. He began to experience nerve issues, which caused migraines that affected his vision. Thomas last played in the Week 10 loss to the Cardinals.
Thomas recounted what happened in 2025 with Kneeland and the “cruel” reactions to his own injuries and with the Cowboys in general.
“Toughest football season of my life… Haven’t opened up about it…. But one thing I want to do is shed light on Marshawn… We lost a brother, A teammate, better yet one of the lights of the lockerooom… It wasn’t a day since his passing that I didn’t think of him. Life slowed down for me, and it made me realize how precious life really is.
“After being sat down for the rest of the season with my nerve issue, it was so easy for me to be down on myself and hate the world… As I watched people laugh at injury reports of me having migraine issues, really made me realize how cruel the world is, but one thing I did was lean on my brothers in that lockeroom and leaned on my Faith with the lord…”
Toughest football season of my life… Haven’t opened up about it…. But one thing I want to do is shed light on Marshawn… We lost a brother , A teammate, better yet one of the lights of the lockerooom… It wasn’t a day Since his passing that I didn’t think of him. Life slowed…
— Juanyeh Thomas (@STG_Yeh1) January 5, 2026
Now, Thomas heads into free agency, uncertain of his future with the Cowboys or in the NFL. He is still in mourning while dealing with his career. Thomas finished the 2025 season with 14 tackles.
The Dallas Cowboys were unable to get into the playoffs following Marshawn Kneeland’s death. Maybe the 2026 season will be much...
