Topics: NFL
One of the final posts shared by former NFL star Marshawn Kneeland has resurfaced after his tragic passing at the age of 24.
On Thursday, Dallas Cowboys issued a statement confirming that defensive end Kneeland had died, writing: "It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning.
"Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family."
In addition, the NFL said they were "deeply saddened" to learn of Kneeland's passing, which came just days after he scored his first takedown in his final match against the Arizona Cardinals.
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No cause of death was stated initially but the Frisco Police Department later released a statement claiming he was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after an outside agency vehicle pursuit and search following a crash on Dallas Parkway.
They said that a man later identified as Kneeland was found "deceased with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound", with the cause of death to determined by the Collin County Medical Examiner's Office.
Police also said they received information that Kneeland "had expressed suicidal ideations".
It has emerged that one of Kneeland's last comments on social media was back in May 2024 when he took to X to write, "Enjoy this. It goes by fast" with a prayer emoji in response to a tweet from one of his former defensive coaches at Western Michigan.
David Denham uploaded a picture of a group of players and wrote, "Always a great evening when the guys come over! #EAT".
He remained active on Instagram and recently posted pictures of family and friends on social media but in another poignant post on X, he had shared a screenshot from ESPN highlighting his draft selection for the Cowboys, writing: "From 2 star to 2nd round thank you everyone for the love and support. We just getting started".
In police dispatch audio obtained and published by TMZ, it is claimed that Kneeland's girlfriend Catalina called the emergency services and explained that her partner had a history of mental health issues.
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.
According to one officer heard in the audio, Kneeland told his family 'goodbye' over text message.
Selected 56th overall in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Kneeland signed a four-year rookie contract and made 11 appearances during his rookie season before featuring a further seven times at the start of the 2025 campaign.
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.
