On an early morning the Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found dead in his apartment from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on November 6th, 2025.
The team put out a statement from them for their condolences to his girlfriend and family.
Let’s flash back to the first game of the year; it’s the Cowboys vs. the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Rookie Kneeland was drafted out of Western Michigan pick 56 and was the starting defensive end for the Cowboys on opening night. Kneeland was able to record his first ever sack on Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts that night, but sadly it would also be his last sack of his career.
Dallas Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones pitches in about Marshawn’s performance.
“The biggest thing was his energy and the way he played the game,” Jones said of the 2024 second-round pick.
It’s game day, and it’s Dallas vs Arizona at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals were the underdogs going into this game and the Cowboys as the favorite. The Cowboys were able to score early on defense with a blocked punt by S Williams and a touchdown by Kneeland, who recovered the blocked punt. Even with the touchdown from the Cowboys, the Cardinals were able to keep a strong lead making the Cowboys trail by 10 going into halftime. Coming out of halftime, the Cowboys were able to score again, but it was no match for the Cardinals defense who were able to keep that 10-point lead and win.
Dallas Cowboys defensive line Coach Greg Ellis gives his own knowledge about how good of a player Kneeland was.
“He epitomized what you look for in a football player,” Ellis said. “He played the game hard. He was eager to learn. You hear a lot of things about this generation, but that wasn’t Marshawn. He was still a, ‘Yes, sir. No, sir,’ kind of guy. He wanted extra help with things That was him. Extra stuff, study film.”
After an amazing start for the Cowboys rookie, things ended up taking a very sad turn. Kneeland was found dead in a portable restroom from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Just moments before this whole incident occurred, Marshawn was involved in a car crash on Dallas parkway which he fled from cops and hid. Kneeland who also had a history of mental illness more than likely led to his tragic death. Right before his death Marshawn would send a ¨goodbye¨ text to his loved ones and sadly pass away.
Marshawn’s family thinks differently about this situation.
“I truly think they killed him, I truly do,” “Because why else would he run for his life then kill himself in a porta-potty.” She went on to say that “this is nothing like him at all,” adding, “Marshawn is not a violent person. He is not a hot head. Something here is just not right,” says Kneeland cousin, Jasmine Kneeland.
