American footballer Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive end for the Cowboys, has died at the age of 24, the team announced Thursday morning.
Kneeland died Wednesday night (US time) after a police chase, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
DPS troopers tried to stop Kneeland’s vehicle for a traffic violation. Kneeland refused to stop which led to a pursuit, but troopers lost sight of the vehicle.
The car was later found abandoned and involved in a crash, and Kneeland was then found dead in a nearby porta-potty, according to the police audio obtained by TMZ.
Kneeland, a 2024 second-round pick, played 17 snaps during the Cowboys’ loss to the Cardinals on Monday night.
He scored a touchdown on a blocked punt in the 27-17 defeat.
“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 organisation. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family,” the Cowboys said in a statement.
Kneeland’s cause of death was suicide, the Texas Department of Public Safety said.
Kneeland was “armed” and his girlfriend was concerned he would “end it all,” according to the audio dispatch.
“We’re talking to the girlfriend, she’s trying to call the agent, so we’re trying to get her to call him first but she’s saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness, and her quote was, ‘He will end it all’,” the dispatcher said in the two-minute-plus audio obtained by TMZ Sports.
The call also featured a warning from a dispatcher.
“You all do me a favour, everybody stay with a buddy, don’t go looking alone, this guy is armed,” the person said.
Kneeland is said to have texted his family “goodbye”.
“…I just received a group text from him saying goodbye, they’re concerned for his welfare, they do not have a key to the apartment,” another dispatcher said in the clip, which appeared to start mid-sentence.
A dispatcher later stated that no one was at the apartment, while another said a lieutenant said the NFL called Plano (Texas) police.
The Texas DPS said in a statement Thursday that it officers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation at 10.33pm Wednesday, but the vehicle did not stop and an unsuccessful pursuit unfolded.
They later found the vehicle abandoned but with traces of a collision, and “DPS Aircraft and troopers” plus the Frisco police department found Kneeland dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Frisco police department said they received information that Kneeland — who they said fled by foot — had “suicidal intentions,” and they found him dead at 1.31am.
“We didn’t see any movement, still got that heat signature, looks like it’s curled up at the bottom of that porta-potty,” the dispatcher said.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” the NFL said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counselling resources.”
After starring at Godwin Heights HS in Wyoming, Mich., Kneeland recorded 13 sacks at Western Michigan from 2019-23.
He played in 11 games as a rookie last season and seven games this season, recording one sack. (NYP)
