The cause of death for NFL player Marshawn Kneeland has been revealed as we also learn his distraught girlfriend warned police that “he was armed and would end it all” nearly 2 years after the death of his mother, whose ashes he wore in a necklace.
RELATED: Dallas Cowboys Star Marshawn Kneeland Passes Away At 24
Marshawn Kneeland’s Passes Away Just Days After Scoring First NFL Touchdown
As we shared earlier, reports broke following the passing of the 24-year-old second-year Dallas Cowboys defensive end. Kneeland, who lived in Plano, was found dead early Thursday morning (November 6). The NFL team confirmed the news in a somber statement. It read:
“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.”
The professional football player was born on July 8, 2001 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He attended Godwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan. He then committed to Western Michigan University, where he played from 2019 through 2023.
RELATED: Former LSU Wide Receiver And NFL Draft Prospect Kyren Lacy Found Dead In Houston At 24
In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected Kneeland in the second round, as the 56th overall pick. Once in Dallas, Kneeland not only faced competition but also injuries in his rookie season. He clocked 11 games and 14 tackles, but missed much time due to knee surgery. However, his coaches and the press stood firm on his potential, describing him as “an advanced student of the game.”
By time the 2025 season came around, praises, hopes, and expectations were high. On Monday (November 3), he achieved a huge career-high despite an overall team loss. During a Monday Night Football game versus the Arizona Cardinals, he scored his first NFL touchdown after recovering a blocked punt in the end zone. However, just days later, he passed away.
Kneeland’s agent Jonathan “Jon” Perzley also released a statement and said:
“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night.
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.
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.”
NFL Player Marshawn Kneeland’s Cause Of Death Revealed; Girlfriend Warned Police ‘He Was Armed And Would End It All’
Following initial reports of Marshawn Kneeland’s death, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) ruled his death a suicide. In a statement, the Department of Public Safety said his cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a pursuit by DPS troopers over a traffic violation. DPS said:
“[Troopers] attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on the northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Blvd. The driver refused to stop, resulting in a pursuit with DPS Troopers.”
Troopers ended their pursuit, which began around 10:39 PM, after losing sight of Kneeland’s vehicle. Minutes later, troopers found it abandoned and involved in a crash on Dallas Parkway. Around 1:30 AM, troopers found Kneeland’s body, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, in a nearby porta potty, according to police audio obtained by TMZ Sports.
Per the audio, Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, 22, called police late Wednesday evening (November 5) and said she was trying to call his agent but to no avail. She then alleged to dispatchers that Kneeland has a history of mental illness, was “armed,” and “will end it all.” Per the audio, dispatchers said Kneeland’s family received a text confirming his welfare, but also notifying them of his “goodbye.”
According to the Daily Mail, Mancera’s family said she will not answer any of their phone calls. One of her cousins, Lexis Mancera Guerra, said from her home in Michigan, “She won’t answer to anybody. She won’t talk. I don’t know what’s happening until I fly down there. I’m going down to support her.” When asked why she believed she won’t answer, Guerra said, “I think it’s just a lot. I don’t know what happened.”
NFL Player Marshawn Kneeland Dies Nearly 2 Years After Death Of Mother, Whose Ashes He Wore In Necklace
Kneeland’s death follow’s the death of his mother Wendy Kneeland, 45, who died unexpectedly. She passed just before her son was drafted into the NFL last year. On February 18, 2024, as Kneeland prepared for the NFL scouting combine, his mother passed unexpectedly.
According to the Daily Mail, a medical examiner found oxycodone and morphine in her system. Additionally, the found anticonvulsant gabapentin, antidepressant duloxetine, and muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine. It’s unknown the details of all of the drugs found in her system.
Speaking on his mother’s passing, Kneeland previously said:
“It was definitely tough. 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.
It’s a hard situation just knowing she got to see me potentially going to the NFL and going through [the process]. She’s still with me. I got this urn of her ashes I carry with me everywhere. I still feel like she’s there watching over me.”
According to the Dallas Morning News, Kneeland’s mother also had a lifelong dream of him making the NFL. After he made it, he honored his late mother’s memory by carrying her ashes on a chain around his neck. He kept them in a vertically-shaped urn, less than 2 inches, on a necklace.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, by texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or by going to 988lifeline.org.
#Socialites, be sure to check out the post below, then leave us your thoughts in a comment after!