Who Was Marshawn Kneeland? What to Know About Cowboys DE After Death.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away, the team announced in a statement on Nov. 6.

"It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning," the team said. "Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family."

Kneeland was 24 years old. No cause of death has been disclosed.

Who was Marshawn Kneeland?

Kneeland grew up in Michigan and played at Western Michigan University after being a two-star recruit. Over five seasons with the Broncos, he totaled 148 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks, establishing himself as a versatile and hard-working defensive player.

NFL Career with the Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys selected Kneeland in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft (56th overall). He expressed excitement about joining Dallas, telling then-coach Mike McCarthy, "I won't let you down, man."

As a rookie, Kneeland played in 11 games, recording 14 tackles and earning praise from Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who called him "a great person, eager to learn… tough, loved playing the game, and didn’t take any crap from anyone on the field."

2025 Season and Milestones

In his second season, Kneeland took on a larger role, starting three of seven games, totaling 12 tackles and recording his first career sack.

His final NFL game came just three days before his passing in a Week 9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football. In that game, Kneeland scored the only touchdown of his career, recovering a blocked punt in the second quarter.

Career Stats

Games Played: 18
Starts: 4
Tackles: 26
Sacks: 1
Pass Defenses: 1
Touchdowns: 1

Kneeland’s passing is a profound loss for the Cowboys organization, teammates, and the NFL community, as he was widely respected both on and off the field for his talent, dedication, and character.