Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland sent a 'goodbye' text message to his family shortly before his death aged 24, according to police dispatch audio obtained by US media.
The Cowboys announced on Thursday that Kneeland had passed away in the early hours of the morning.
The NFL also paid tribute to the 24-year-old, who scored his first career touchdown against Arizona Cardinals on Monday, while his agent Jonathan Perzley called Kneeland his 'dearest friend' and described his death as 'a pain I can hardly put into words'.
The Frisco Police Department, based in Texas, subsequently stated that a man, later identified as Kneeland, had been found deceased from what is said to be an 'apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound' following 'an outside agency vehicle pursuit that led to a multi-agency search'.
The statement continued: "On November 5, 2025, at approximately 10:39 p.m., the Frisco Police Department responded to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) with locating a vehicle that had evaded troopers during a pursuit that entered the city of Frisco.
"After losing sight of the vehicle, troopers located it minutes later, crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway.
"Initial reports indicated that a male subject, later identified as 24-year-old Marshawn Kneeland of Plano, TX fled the scene on foot. Officers established a perimeter and initiated a search of the area with the assistance of the FPD K-9 and Drone units.
"During the course of the search, officers received information that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations. Kneeland was later located at 1:31a.m., deceased with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound."
His official cause of death has not yet been confirmed, and will be investigated and determined by the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office.
US-based outlet TMZ have since obtained police dispatch audio from Fresco PD, in which it is relayed that the emergency services were called by Kneeland's girlfriend.
She is said to have expressed concern over his wellbeing, adding that he had a history of mental health issues.
Another officer is then heard saying that Kneeland sent a text message to his family saying 'goodbye'.
Kneeland had made seven appearances in the NFL for the Cowboys during the 2025 season, having been signed to a four-year rookie contract as a second-round pick in the 2024 draft.
He previously played college football in Western Michigan for four years between 2019 and 2023, where he was described as 'freakishly athletic' by one of his coaches.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and would like to speak to someone in confidence, there are several helplines available to support you. The Samaritans offer an anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123, or you can email them directly.
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) also operate a phoneline from 5pm to midnight every day on 0800 58 58 58.
Topics: NFL
Ryan Smart