The Dallas Cowboys held a powerful and emotional tribute for their late teammate, Marshawn Kneeland, during their first home game since the 24-year-old NFL star took his own life earlier this month.
A Stadium United in Grief
With a packed AT&T Stadium watching the Cowboys' showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, the team commemorated their lost player in a series of moving gestures. Defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa set the tone, carrying a Number 94 flag onto the field during his warmup, honouring the jersey number Kneeland wore.
The tributes continued as Odighizuwa then carried Kneeland's actual jersey over to the team's dugout. Meanwhile, head coach Brian Schottenheimer visibly honoured his player, wearing a shirt featuring Kneeland's face.
Just before kickoff on Sunday afternoon, the franchise played a heartfelt video on the jumbotron, reflecting on Kneeland's time with the team, which began when they drafted him in 2024. The emotional footage brought both Coach Schottenheimer and opposing coach Nick Sirianni to the brink of tears.
The Tragic Final Hours
The 24-year-old was found dead on November 6 from what police confirmed was an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. This tragic event occurred just hours after a dramatic police pursuit.
According to a police report obtained by TMZ, a Texas Department of Public Safety officer clocked Kneeland speeding at nearly 150mph around 10:30 pm on November 5. The officer reported seeing the NFL star make 'several unsafe lane changes' before attempting to pull him over. Kneeland did not comply, and his Dodge Charger soon disappeared from view.
Minutes later, police located the crashed vehicle; it had collided with another car before stopping in a field. Kneeland was not inside. Authorities discovered an empty gun holster in the car, prompting an immediate search. Tragically, his body was found in a port-a-potty around 1:30 am on November 6.
A Community Remembers
The Cowboys community has been profoundly affected by the loss. Kneeland's pregnant girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, was in attendance for Sunday's emotional game, alongside other members of his family. It was revealed that during the police pursuit, Mancera had warned officers that Kneeland had a gun and she feared he would harm himself.
Kneeland's death came during the Cowboys' bye week, just days after he scored a touchdown in the team's 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The team played their first game without him last Monday night, securing a 33-16 victory at the Las Vegas Raiders.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or at http://988lifeline.org.
