"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," the Cowboys said in a statement.
Kneeland's agent, Jonathan Perzley, also confirmed the passing of the second-year defensive end.
"I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night," Perzley said in a statement.
"I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys. 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. 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."
The team did not announce any details about Kneeland's death.
Career path
Marshawn Kneeland, who played college football at Western Michigan, was picked with the 56th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2024 NFL Draft. The defensive end appeared in 11 games in his rookie year, recording 14 combined tackles, three QB hits, two tackles for loss, one batted pass, and a fumble recovery.
The 24-year-old took a leap in his second year, starting three games and appearing in seven. Kneeland recorded his first career sack in a Week 1 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles and tallied 12 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, and one QB hit.
Last Monday, Kneeland returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in the Cowboys' 27-17 loss against the Arizona Cardinals.