Marshawn Kneeland was an American professional football player who played defensive end in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys after starring at Western Michigan University. He was regarded as a high-upside pass rusher, drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and his career and life were tragically cut short in 2025 at age 24.

Quick Scoop

  • Position and team : Marshawn Kneeland was a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.
  • College background : He played college football at Western Michigan, where he developed from an under-recruited high school player into an All-MAC defender and NFL prospect.
  • Draft status : Kneeland was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, a notable rise for a former two-star recruit.
  • Playing style : He was known for his strength, motor, and versatility on the defensive line, with scouts projecting him as a disruptive edge rusher with room to grow.
  • Rookie season highlights : In 2024 he appeared in multiple games for Dallas, recording tackles and special-teams contributions, though he also dealt with a significant knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery.
  • 2025 season and touchdown : In his second season, he was viewed as a potential breakout player in training camp and scored his only NFL touchdown by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals.
  • Early life : Born July 8, 2001, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he attended Godwin Heights High School, playing both linebacker and tight end and excelling on both sides of the ball.
  • Family and background : Reports highlight the influence of his parents, Wendy and Shawn, and his close-knit family in Michigan, who supported his football ambitions through personal and family adversity.
  • Personality and locker-room presence : Teammates later described him as upbeat, playful, and someone who brought energy and smiles to the locker room, while also noting that people often do not see the internal struggles others carry.
  • Death and aftermath : On November 6, 2025, Knieeland was found dead in Frisco, Texas, from what police described as an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police pursuit related to a traffic violation; his death has been investigated as a possible suicide. Public discussion since then has included calls for more compassion, awareness of mental health, and respect for privacy when tragedies like this occur.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.