Family tragedy preceded Marshawn Kneeland’s devastating death on Thursday.
The Cowboys defensive lineman lost his mother, Wendy, to an accidental overdose less than two years before he took his own life at just 24 years old.
Kneeland, who died by suicide on Wednesday night after a police chase in Texas, reportedly spoke at her wake in March of last year.
Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide in November 2025. AP“It’s crazy, growing up she was always there for me, always going to all my games, always there for me,” Kneeland said during the congregation, via The Daily Mail. “It’s definitely tough, you just never expect something like this. She would always help me with just life in general.
“She was basically there for me for everything. If I could go back in time I would have definitely found a way for me to go see her, or her to come see me. It tore me apart, I can still feel her just training, I can feel her presence there with me and I still do. I know she’s still watching over me. I try to be strong as much as I can.”
Here is the latest on Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland
- Jerry Jones mourns Marshawn Kneeland in heartbreaking first comments
- Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend speaks out for first time since his shocking death
- NFL asks all teams to hold moment of silence for late Cowboys defensive end on Sunday
- Marshawn Kneeland’s cause of death ruled a suicide after police chase
Williams was reportedly close to his mother, carrying a small urn with her ashes on a chain around his neck since her passing.
Marshawn Kneeland with his mother (left). Instagram / @m_kneeland99“It was definitely tough,” Kneeland told the Dallas Morning News last year of his mother’s death. “I just managed it. She helped me a lot in my younger years getting into football. I always had the dream. I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL’ and I made it. It’s a hard situation just knowing she got to see me potentially going to the NFL and going through [the process]. She’s still with me. I got this urn of her ashes I carry with me everywhere. I still feel like she’s there watching over me.”
Texas police officers found Kneeland dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a short pursuit after he refused to stop for a traffic violation.
A 2024 second-round pick out of Western Michigan, Kneeland played 17 snaps during the Cowboys’ loss to the Cardinals on Monday night, scoring a touchdown on a blocked punt.
“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,” the Cowboys said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
