Catalina Mancera is keeping Marshawn Kneeland forever in her heart.
One week after Dallas Cowboys player died by apparent suicide at 24, his girlfriend, who is pregnant with the couple’s baby, shared a heartfelt tribute to the late NFL star.
“My sweet baby, words could never express how broken I feel, you’re my everything,” she wrote in a Nov. 10 Facebook post. “I’ll love you forever my beautiful angel.”
The Dallas Cowboys’ head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed in a Nov. 12 press conference that Mancera, 22, is expecting Kneeland’s baby, noting that the NFL team had set up a fund to help her with expenses.
“We want to make sure she is taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives—it's very important to our guys and to us,” Schottenheimer emphasized. “The organization has been amazing, we've started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund where we can all give and support Catalina.”
One day before Schottenheimer detailed her pregnancy, Mancera shared how losing her boyfriend has been,“too much,” for her to bear.
“I'm grieving hard right now,” she told The Daily Mail in an interview published Nov. 11. “It will be a long time before I'll feel ready to talk at any length.”
Kneeland was found dead in the early hours of Nov. 6 by Frisco, Texas, authorities, after crashing his car and fleeing the scene on foot following a pursuit with authorities, according to a Frisco police press release.
Shortly after his death was confirmed, Kneeland’s family shared a statement saying they were “devastated by this tremendous loss,” and still processing.
“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,” Kneeland’s family wrote in a joint Facebook statement. “He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.”
One who was particularly inspired by the football star was his agent Jonathan Perzley, who called Kneeland a “dear friend.”
“Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field,” Perzley wrote. “To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”
He added, “My heart aches for his family, his teammates, and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time.”
To look back on Kneeland’s legacy on and off the field, 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.”