Coach Reveals Tragic News and Memorial Fund
In a deeply emotional press conference held on Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer shared the heartbreaking news that Catalina Mancera, the girlfriend of the late Marshawn Kneeland, is pregnant with their first child. This revelation comes just one week after the 24-year-old defensive lineman's death on 6 November 2025 from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police pursuit.
A Legacy of Support
Coach Schottenheimer, speaking publicly for the first time since the tragedy, detailed how the organisation is responding to the devastating loss. He announced the creation of the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, a initiative designed to provide lifelong financial support for Ms. Mancera and the couple's unborn baby.
"We’re going to honor Marshawn and his family in a number of different ways. The organisation has been amazing," Schottenheimer stated. "We’ve started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, where we can all give and support Catalina. She’s pregnant, and so we want to make sure she’s taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives."
A Team in Mourning
The coach also opened up about the profound impact of Kneeland's death on the entire Cowboys team. He described a locker room grappling with immense grief, where moments of shared laughter and tears are helping players and staff cope with their sudden loss.
"There’s no playbook, there’s really not. So that’s where the late nights come in, but the biggest thing for me is being strong for our football team," Schottenheimer reflected. He emphasised the incredible bond that has formed within the team, stating, "We've got an incredible locker room, that’s where the culture of what we’re trying to build. We are bonded more than any of us ever could have thought."
The Dallas Cowboys community now rallies not only to remember their teammate but also to secure the future of the family he leaves behind.
