Jerry Jones shared heartfelt words about the loss of Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland, reflecting on grief and the importance of mental health awareness
14:50 ET, 12 Nov 2025Updated 14:50 ET, 12 Nov 2025
Jerry Jones has owned the Dallas Cowboys for over 35 years
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Jerry Jones has owned the Dallas Cowboys for over 35 years(Image: Getty)
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones spoke publicly Tuesday about the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, expressing heartbreak over the loss of the 24-year-old player and calling for greater awareness around mental health.
Kneeland, who was in his second NFL season with Dallas, died on Nov. 6 in Frisco, Texas. Police said he took his own life following a vehicle pursuit and crash. He was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, and his heartbroken girlfriend spoke out for the first time on Tuesday.
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Speaking on *'*105.3 The Fan' in Dallas, Jones reflected on Kneeland’s energy and the void left behind. It comes after teams were sent tribute instructions by the NFL last weekend.
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“He was very unique in his zest for life, and he was very unique for his passion for the game,” Jones said. “Of course, the saddest thing for someone like me is the fact that he’s only 24 years old.”
“You think about all of the time that we’re going to miss him and he’s going to be missed by the people around him. He was just getting started.”
Kneeland, a second-round pick out of Western Michigan in the 2024 NFL Draft, played 11 games as a rookie before earning a larger role this season. He recorded his first career touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in what would become his final game, recovering a blocked punt in the end zone.
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Jones said he hoped the tragedy would highlight the importance of mental health awareness across sports and society. “His death is such a national awareness thing that it takes on some of that light when we think about how we go forward,” Jones said.
He added that the organization is still processing the shock of losing a young player who, in his words, “brought light to every room.”
“Just hard to believe the content that was on the other phone in the middle of the night when we all got the news,” Jones said. “You can’t make sense of it. You just want to hold on to what he meant to everybody around here.”
Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland died early Thursday morning
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Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland died early Thursday morning(Image: Getty)
The Cowboys were on their bye week at the time of Kneeland’s death and will return to action next Monday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Players are expected to wear T-shirts and helmet decals honoring Kneeland for the remainder of the season.
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“From the standpoint of the team and going back to work, there’s no doubt in my mind they will do so in memory of what he’s all about,” Jones said.
Jones also shared a broader message about loss and perspective. “I think we all have unfettered feelings about the people we love, people we work with, and this is just a time when you acknowledge that there’s no answers,” he said. “It makes you want to live life to the fullest. It makes you want to look for the very best in what we have for each other. And in some way make sense out of these times in terms of what they can mean from helping those that are here on Earth right now.”
The Cowboys released a statement following Kneeland’s death describing him as “a beloved teammate and member of our organization.”