Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has passed away suddenly at the age of 24, the team confirmed on Thursday morning.
The young lineman, who was in the middle of just his second season in the NFL, died overnight.
No cause of death has been made public.
His “shattered” agent, Jonathan Perzley, called it a “tremendous loss” in an emotional statement.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Kneeland’s passing comes only days after what should have been a career highlight. On Monday night, he suited up for the Cowboys in their 27–17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, scoring his first professional touchdown when he scooped up a blocked punt in the end zone during the second quarter.
The Cowboys drafted Kneeland in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan. In less than two full seasons, he played 18 games for Dallas, starting in four, recording 26 tackles and one sack.
The NFL also shared its condolences, writing: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland. Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.”
Perzley, who represented Kneeland through his rise from college hopeful to NFL professional, reflected on his player’s journey.
“I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream of being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,” he said. “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.”
Kneeland’s rise to the NFL was marked by both drive and heartbreak. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he starred at Godwin Heights High School, where he set school records for tackles, sacks and tackles for loss. From there, he became a force at Western Michigan, playing 38 collegiate games with 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, three forced fumbles and three pass deflections. He capped his final season with a second-team All-Mid-American Conference nod in 2023 after posting 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in just nine games.
But as Kneeland prepared for the biggest step of his life — the NFL scouting combine — tragedy struck his family. His mother, Wendy, unexpectedly passed away in February 2024 from an undisclosed illness, just two months before the draft.
“It was tough, it still is,” Kneeland told WZZM 13 earlier this year. “But I know at the end of the day the thing that gets me through it is she spent all her life trying to get me to go here and supported me as much as she could to get me to the NFL.”
After being selected by Dallas, Kneeland honoured her memory by wearing a small two-inch urn containing her ashes around his neck.
His loss leaves a deep hole in the Cowboys locker room and across the league, where tributes have poured in for a player remembered as humble, hard-working and deeply devoted to both football and family.
The Cowboys are currently on their bye week and are not scheduled to return to training until Monday ahead of their November 17 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Kneeland’s story — from small-town Michigan standout to NFL touchdown scorer — was one of perseverance, resilience and heart. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, and fans at this time.
