Lead
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, 24, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the night of Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, after a police pursuit on the Dallas North Tollway, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. Troopers tried to stop a vehicle driven by Kneeland around 10:30 p.m.; when the car did not stop, a pursuit ensued and was later discontinued after officers lost sight of the vehicle. The vehicle was recovered abandoned after a crash on the Dallas Parkway, and Kneeland was located shortly afterward and pronounced dead, authorities said. The Cowboys and Kneeland’s agent issued statements mourning his death.
Key Takeaways
- Marshawn Kneeland, 24, was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police pursuit on Nov. 5, 2025, Texas DPS said.
- Troopers initiated a traffic stop around 10:30 p.m. on the Dallas North Tollway; the pursuit was discontinued after officers lost sight of the vehicle.
- The vehicle was later discovered abandoned after a crash on the Dallas Parkway; Kneeland was found in the immediate area, per the DPS statement.
- Plano Police responded to Kneeland’s home twice that night — at about 11 p.m. following the crash and again roughly 40 minutes later for a welfare check — but made no contact, police said.
- Kneeland was a 2024 second-round pick out of Western Michigan and had appeared in 11 games as a rookie and seven games this season, with one career sack and one touchdown on Nov. 3, 2025.
- The Cowboys, who announced defensive reinforcements this week, were on a bye at the time of Kneeland’s death.
- His agent, Jonathan Perzley, described Kneeland as a hard-working player who rose from a hopeful college prospect to an NFL professional.
Background
Marshawn Kneeland was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft after a collegiate career at Western Michigan. As a rotational defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, Kneeland saw limited snaps but contributed on special teams and in reserve defensive packages. His only career touchdown came Nov. 3, 2025, when he recovered a blocked punt and returned it for a score — a rare highlight in an early-stage pro career. The Cowboys had been reshaping a defense that struggled earlier in the season, signing veteran players and adjusting personnel ahead of the bye week.
Off-field, Kneeland’s trajectory mirrored many late-round and mid-round prospects who work to secure a regular role in a star-driven league; teammates and staff frequently noted such players’ preparation and special-teams value. The Dallas and North Texas law-enforcement agencies involved in Wednesday night’s events included the Texas Department of Public Safety, Frisco Police Department (which requested an initial response), and Plano Police Department, which later checked the player’s residence. The family, team and agent released brief statements that emphasized shock and grief.
Main Event
According to the Texas DPS, troopers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Kneeland on the Dallas North Tollway at about 10:30 p.m. after an alleged traffic violation. Officials say Kneeland did not comply with the stop and a pursuit ensued; troopers later stopped the pursuit after losing sight of the vehicle. A short time later, the vehicle was found abandoned following a crash on the Dallas Parkway.
Responding officers located Kneeland “in the immediate area” and determined he had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the DPS said. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Authorities have described the cause of death as self-inflicted; investigators will complete standard on-scene processing and follow-up inquiries to document the sequence of events.
Plano Police Department reports indicate officers attended Kneeland’s residence twice that night: once shortly after the crash at the request of Frisco Police and again about 40 minutes later for a welfare check. On both occasions, officers were unable to make contact with anyone at the home, the department said. Details about items recovered at the scene and whether a firearm was recovered were not disclosed in initial public statements.
Analysis & Implications
The immediate human impact is profound: teammates, coaches and staff face a sudden loss of an emerging player, and the Cowboys organization must address grief and logistical questions while maintaining operational continuity. For a team in the midst of defensive rebuilding, the loss removes a rotational piece who contributed on special teams and provided depth along the line. The psychological effect on a locker room — particularly when a death follows a police encounter — often extends beyond a single season.
From a public-safety and procedural standpoint, this incident will likely prompt reviews of pursuit protocols, interagency coordination, and timelines for welfare checks. The Texas DPS statement notes the pursuit was discontinued after troopers lost sight of the vehicle; investigators and oversight bodies typically examine whether pursuit decisions and follow-up steps aligned with policy and training. Independent or internal reviews may follow to determine whether policy adjustments are warranted.
The event also intersects with broader conversations about athlete mental health, law enforcement encounters with public figures, and media coverage. High-profile deaths tied to police activity can intensify scrutiny of how agencies communicate facts and how teams support players and families. The Cowboys’ statement and Kneeland’s agent framed the news as a personal tragedy; responses in coming days — including any findings from investigators — will shape public understanding and institutional changes, if any.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Age | 24 |
| Draft | 2024, 2nd round |
| Games (2024) | 11 |
| Games (2025, through bye) | 7 |
| Career sacks | 1 |
| Career touchdowns | 1 (blocked punt recovery, Nov. 3, 2025) |
The table above summarizes Kneeland’s pro statistics and key career milestones preserved in public reports. While his on-field numbers were modest, his second-round selection in 2024 indicated a degree of expectation about developmental upside. Comparatively, rotational defensive ends often need consistent snaps or special-teams roles to secure multi-year playing time; Kneeland had begun carving out that role prior to his death.
Reactions & Quotes
The Cowboys released a short team statement expressing condolences and identifying Kneeland as a “beloved teammate.” Team statements like this typically emphasize support for family and internal resources for staff and players.
“Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Dallas Cowboys (team statement)
Kneeland’s agent offered a personal reflection, noting the player’s perseverance from college hopeful to NFL professional and describing the loss as devastating. Agent remarks provide immediate context about the player’s character but do not substitute for investigative findings.
“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night… To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”
Jonathan Perzley (agent)
Local law enforcement confirmed the broad facts of the traffic stop, pursuit and subsequent discovery; officials have not publicly released a full investigative timeline or forensic findings. Community and fan responses on social platforms have mixed mourning and calls for more transparency from authorities, a pattern seen after sudden deaths involving police contact.
Unconfirmed
- Whether a firearm was recovered and, if so, whether it belonged to Kneeland — authorities have not publicly disclosed that detail.
- Any motive or precipitating circumstances that led to the vehicle failing to stop and the subsequent crash remain under investigation.
- Whether additional witnesses or surveillance footage exist that could clarify the seconds between the crash and the discovery of Kneeland’s body — investigators have not yet released a complete timeline.
Bottom Line
The death of Marshawn Kneeland is a sudden, confirmed tragedy that removes a young pro football player from his team and community. Official statements from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Cowboys and local police establish the broad facts: a traffic stop, a pursuit that was discontinued, a crash where the vehicle was found abandoned, and Kneeland’s subsequent death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Key questions remain about the immediate circumstances and any lessons for pursuit policy or athlete welfare support; investigators are expected to release further details as processing and interviews continue. In the near term, the Cowboys organization, Kneeland’s family and the local community will confront grief and seek clarity, while the public and oversight entities will watch for investigative findings and any policy review that follows.