Preston Kneeland, uncle of late Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, remembered his nephew as an “outstanding young man” in the hours after his sudden death on Thursday, November 6.
“He was the gentle giant,” Preston told the Dallas Morning News in a story published Friday, November 7. “He was just an outstanding dude, and we loved him very much.”
Marshawn died by apparent suicide at age 24, days after scoring his first career touchdown in the Cowboys’ Monday Night Football loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the Cowboys wrote in a statement on Thursday. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
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Police found Marshawn dead early Thursday morning after troopers attempted to pull his car over for a traffic violation. Though they lost track of the vehicle, they later found it crashed on the Dallas Parkway and empty, according to a press release from the Frisco Police Department. That spurred a search for the driver, whom they believed fled on foot.
As the search was unfolding, Marshawn’s girlfriend, Catalina, told authorities that he was armed and had expressed “suicidal ideation.”
In the time since Marshawn’s death, tributes have come pouring in from those who knew him. That included a statement from his family, released via Facebook and attributed to family members including his father, Shawn, and three siblings: brothers AJ and Shawn, and sister Yahmya. (Marshawn’s mother, Wendy, died in February 2024.)
“The Kneeland family can confirm the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Marshawn Kneeland,” the statement read. “We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief. As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field — as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend.”
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The statement continued, “He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love,” His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, fans, and the community. During this difficult time, we ask for privacy as we come together as a family to honor and remember Marshawn’s life and legacy.”
“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night,” Marshawn’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, added in a statement. “I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”
Perzley continued, “My heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time. I ask that you please give his loved ones the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this tremendous loss.”
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