Sportsnaut
The Dallas Cowboys family was rocked to its core on Thursday when they announced the absolutely stunning death of 24-year-old defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team’s official statement read. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend, Catalina, and his family.”
As of now, the cause of the former Western Michigan standout’s death has not been revealed. Dallas had high hopes for the defensive end when they made him the 56th pick overall in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, his development as an impact player for the franchise has been slow. He made just four starts in the 18 games he played in over his first two seasons in the league.
Awful news from Dallas: Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland has died at age 24, the team announced.
“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… pic.twitter.com/eTFQWyHnsC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 6, 2025
However, the 6-foot-3, 265-pounder earned being taken so high in the annual event with a strong run for the Broncos. During his five years in the program, he posted 13 sacks, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 68 tackles in 38 games.
The sad news of his passing comes just two years following the death of his mother, Wendy Kneeland, just weeks before the 2024 draft.
“It was definitely tough,” Kneeland said after being selected by the Cowboys [h/t Dallas News]. “I just managed it. She helped me a lot in my younger years, getting into football. I always had the dream. I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL,’ and I made it.”
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