Content warning: This story discusses suicide.
Marshawn Kneeland’s NFL teammates are leaning on each other amid their grief.
In the wake of the Dallas Cowboys defensive end’s death by apparent suicide Nov. 6, his fellow players came together during their bye week to support defensive tackle Solomon Thomas’ nonprofit The Defensive Line, packing food for people in need.
“Being away from each other has been hard,” Thomas said in an interview published on the Cowboys’ website Nov. 10. “So I think coming into the building together meant a lot.”
Indeed, with emotions running high, the initiative presented an opportunity for the athletes to turn their pain into purpose.
“I even told them, ‘Hey, I understand if you don't want to come,’ and all of them wanted to come,” Thomas, 30, continued. “We wanted to be around each other because we're all hurting, we feel the absence and so we want to be there to love on each other.”
Hours earlier, the team reunited for the first time since Kneeland’s death at age 24 for a meeting led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer, team independent psychologist Heather Twedell and director of team security Cable Johnson. Thomas commended his coach for “giving us a space” to discuss the devastating loss.
“We needed a day to be human and to cry and to let everyone know how we felt,” he shared. “Extremely draining and hard day, hard for everyone involved, hard for everyone who loved Marshawn. So it just meant a lot for [Schottenheimer] to conduct the day like that.”
The tragedy was particularly painful for Thomas, whose sister Ella Thomas died by suicide in 2018. As a result, the football star felt especially called to help his teammates through the trying circumstances.
“It's very triggering for me having lost a sister to suicide,” he explained. “But [I] definitely have a responsibility to be here for my teammates to let them know that there's help available, that there's love out there, and that there's a way to move through this together in a way of honoring Marshawn and honoring our own feelings at the same time.”
Kneeland died after crashing his car during a pursuit with Texas police on the night of Nov. 5, after which he fled the scene on foot, according to a press release by local authorities. His body was found early the next day.
Hours after the fatal incident, Kneeland’s family issued a statement saying they were “still processing the depth of our grief.”
“As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field—as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend,” the Facebook statement read. “His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.”
For a look back at Kneeland’s life in photos, keep reading.
Promising Talent
Marshawn Kneeland's football career started long before his time at the NFL.
During his senior year of high school in Michigan, Marshawn achieved an impressive 110 tackles and eight sacks on defense as well as 20 receptions for 330 yards and five touchdowns on offense.
A Rising Star
After graduating, Marshawn committed to Western Michigan University, where he achieved 149 tackles and 12.5 sacks across his four years.
A Standout Player
During his time at the school, the athlete's work ethic helped him stand out, going to the team's facilities as often as he could to train and watch game footage.
As his coach David Denham put it, "That's when you started to see the gradual separation between him and some of the other guys."
Reaching New Heights
Marshawn was the Dallas Cowboys' second-round pick in 2024, the team owner Jerry Jones telling him at the time, "Marshawn, we're gonna put a star on that helmet."
For the young athlete, he tried to soak up every moment. "It's a once in a lifetime experience for me," he said of draft night, "so I'm just excited to be here."
Preparing for the Big Leagues
Marshawn's work ethic stuck with him as he transitioned into the NFL, preparing for his first season with the team.
The Next Chapter
As for how he was approaching the NFL, Marshawn just wanted to stick to his game plan.
"I'm going to be the same type of player I've always been," he said after being drafted. "Physical, fast, high-fitness, high-effort, high-motor. It's basically going to come down to making plays."
Putting in the Work
Throughout his almost two seasons on the Texas team, the 24-year-old amassed 26 tackles and one sack across 18 games, including four starts.
Milestone Achievement
Just days before his death, Marshawn scored his first touchdown in the league.
As his agent Jonathan Perzley said of the player following his death, "Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”