Marshawn Kneeland's Girlfriend Breaks Her Silence After His Death: 'Words Could Never Express How Broken I Feel'
Marshawn Kneeland and girlfriend Catalina Mancera.
Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland's girlfriend is pregnant after his death at 24
News broke last week that Kneeland, who played defensive end for the Texas team, had died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound
The Cowboys organization is setting up a memorial fund in honor of Kneeland, with all proceeds set to be received by Kneeland's girlfriend and "unborn heir"
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer has confirmed that Marshawn Kneeland's girlfriend is pregnant.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 12, Schottenheimer announced that Kneeland's girlfriend Catalina Mancera is pregnant and expecting the couple's first baby just a week after the defensive end died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 24 years old, according to The Dallas Morning News.
"We want to make sure she's taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives," Schottenheimer said during the press conference.
The Cowboys head coach also shared that the organization has created the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, which aims to financially support both Catalina and the couple's baby.
When viewers click "donate" on the fund's website, it reads, "The Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund is dedicated to preserving Marshawn's legacy and extending his impact through direct support for his surviving partner and unborn heir."
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Marshawn Kneeland #94 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2024 in Arlington, Texas
Marshawn Kneeland #94 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at AT&T Stadium on December 9, 2024 in Arlington, Texas
On Thursday, Nov. 6, the Cowboys announced Kneeland's death in an exclusive statement shared with PEOPLE.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning," the Cowboys said in their statement. "Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family."
His agent, Jonathan Perzley, said he was "shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night," in a statement shared by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The second-year player died at night on Wednesday, Nov. 5, Perzley said, just 48 hours after he had a big showing during the Cowboys' Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals. Kneeland recovered a blocked punt in the second quarter and scored a touchdown, putting the Cowboys on the scoreboard.
Later that day, PEOPLE reported that Kneeland died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after leading Texas DPS troopers on a chase just north of Dallas that Wednesday night, authorities said.
Marshawn Kneeland #94 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024
Marshawn Kneeland #94 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on from the sideline during the national anthem prior to an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on December 22, 2024
DPS Aircraft and troopers along with the Frisco Police Department found Kneeland approximately three hours after the chase, dead “from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound." Kneeland was in the immediate area of his car, which had crashed in the southbound lanes of the Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway in Frisco at 10:39 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5, according to news release shared with PEOPLE.
Moments earlier, troopers had attempted to stop Kneeland for a traffic violation on the northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Blvd., but he refused to comply, authorities said.
He then fled and troopers pursued his vehicle until they lost sight of it. His car later crashed in the southbound lanes of the Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway, authorities said.
According to the Frisco Police Department, during the course of the search, officers received information that Kneeland “had expressed suicidal ideations.” Kneeland's body was found in the immediate vicinity of his vehicle at 1:31 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Western Michigan defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine
Western Michigan defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland answers questions from the media during the NFL Scouting Combine
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Kneeland's girlfriend Mancera broke her silence on her partner's death, sharing a post on Facebook.
"My sweet baby, words could never express how broken I feel, you’re my everything. I’ll love you forever my beautiful angel," she wrote, adding a white heart emoji.
The mom-to-be's friends and family shared messages of support in the comments. One friend wrote, "Love you cat. he is always with you. praying for you and thinking of you so much. and for his family and your family."
In the hours before his death, Mancera attempted to save Kneeland by alerting police to her concerns that he'd take his own life and was armed with a gun. Police audio obtained by PEOPLE included a dispatcher saying, "We're talking to the girlfriend. She's trying to call his agent, but we're trying to get her to call him first, but she's saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness and her quote was, 'He will end it all.' "
A dispatcher could also be heard on the audio saying that Kneeland's family "received a text from him, a group text from him, saying goodbye. They're concerned for his welfare."
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