On Monday night, Montgomery prep star standout Sam Williams blocked an Arizona Cardinals punt, and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland recovered the football in the end zone for a Dallas Cowboys’ touchdown.
On Thursday morning, the Cowboys announced that Kneeland was dead.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” read a statement issued by the NFL team. “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 Cowboys did not announce a cause of death for the 24-year-old. Neither did his agent Jonathan Perzley, who also issued a statement on Thursday.
“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night,” read the statement from Perzley. “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 to grieve this tremendous loss.”
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OURNFL PAGE
A second-round pick from Western Michigan in the 2024 NFL Draft, Kneeland missed six games because of injuries in his rookie season, but played in the other 11, with one start.
This season, Kneeland played in seven of Dallas’ nine games, with three starts.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” said the NFL in a release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates.”
The Cowboys are in their bye week. Dallas returns to the field on Nov. 17 against the Los Vegas Raiders.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.