This article discusses topics related to suicide and mental health struggles. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or in crisis, please seek help immediately. Text 988 or reach out to a mental health treatment provider directly.
On November 3rd, 2025, Marshawn Kneeland scored his first professional touchdown with the Dallas Cowboys. Just days later, on November 6th, Kneeland tragically died from an apparent suicide.
While the details are still being investigated, Marshawn Kneeland’s death emits a powerful message: Mental health struggles can happen to anyone, of any age, background, or standing. And all too often, they happen silently.
Marshawn Kneeland was the defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys. He was the Cowboys’ second-round draft pick for the 2024 season, and a monumental member of the team. Beyond that, Marshawn Kneeland was a beloved partner to his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, and soon-to-be father of their first baby together. He was also a dear son, brother, nephew, uncle, and friend.
What Happened to Marshawn Kneeland?
Marshawn Kneeland died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in the early hours of November 6, 2025. As of this writing, details regarding his death are still under investigation.
However, there were many critical events leading up to Marshawn Kneeland’s passing. It began on the night of November 5, 2025, when Texas state troopers attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation around 10:30pm. The driver, who was later identified as Kneeland, did not stop, ultimately initiating a police chase. His car then crashed less than one block away from the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters.
Kneeland, however, was not at the scene when authorities arrived. He had fled on foot, prompting a three-hour search around the premises. That’s when his body was found.
As police were searching for Kneeland, they had received a call from his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, who was concerned about his well-being. She told the police that he was armed, that he had a history of mental illness, and that he was expressing suicidal ideation. To quote, she said that he “would end it all.”
But this wasn’t the first time that police were alerted of concerns. Several people who knew and loved Kneeland had also received a “goodbye” text message from the NFL player that night. This prompted Cable Johnson, the Cowboys’ director of security, to request a welfare check for the player. But authorities weren’t able to make contact with anyone in his apartment.
This sequence of events raises a lot of questions – Why did Kneeland run from the police, and why did he flee the scene of the crash? Was he experiencing a mental breakdown or manic episode and, if so, for how long? Did he have a long history of mental health struggles—and did anyone know about it?
Marshawn Kneeland’s Death Puts a Spotlight on Mental Health
The dispatch audio from Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend indicates that the player was dealing with mental health issues prior to that night. However, there is no documented history of his struggles and no formal diagnoses that we can review. Some of those close to him also report there weren’t any signs.
Ryan Flournoy, who entered the NFL alongside Kneeland in 2024, became a fast friend of the defensive end. Flournoy says, “There were no signs at all. Just a happy guy… always smiling, always cracking jokes, dancing, playing a lot.” He continued, “You would never know it, and that’s why it’s crazy, shocking.”
Cowboys’ defensive tackle, Osa Odighizuwa, agreed there were little signs, but noted that Kneeland was a deeply sensitive person. “I know everything was 110% with him, even his emotions. When he got upset, he would be very upset. That was kind of the most that I knew.”
Solomon Thomas, Cowboys’ defensive tackle, spoke at Kneeland’s candlelight vigil and echoed a similar sentiment. However, as someone who has been personally impacted by suicide in his family, Thomas recognizes that a smiling face doesn’t always indicate happiness.
“Marshawn was in the building, smiling every day…. He was dancing all the time, but that’s the thing with mental health and suicide. You just never know what someone’s going through, someone could be smiling, someone could be dancing, laughing, having a great time expressing all this joy, but inside, they could really be fighting the battle that you never know about.”
“You don’t know what the chemicals are telling them in their brain. You don’t know the trauma from their childhood. You don’t know everything they’ve been going through, and that’s why it’s so important to be kind. It’s so important to ask people how they’re doing. It’s so important to tell people the resources around them that therapy is okay…”
For men, especially those in the Black community, there is a significant stigma around mental health. For some, getting treatment isn’t even a consideration. There is a deep-seated notion that mental health indicates vulnerability; that asking for help underlines weakness; that mental health struggles take away a man’s ability to be strong and to provide. Because of these toxic gender norms, too many men struggle in silence. Too many men do not get the help they desperately need and deserve.
Research shows that about 42 percent of men seek treatment for a mental health condition, compared to 57 percent of women. Among Black and African American adults with a mental health concern, roughly 39 percent seek treatment. And among Black men in particular, deaths by suicide have risen over 25% in the last two decades. There is a mental health crisis among men, especially those of diverse cultural and racial backgrounds, who face an immense pressure to conform to societal expectations.
Unfortunately, this pressure and this stigma can lead to tragic results. We see that in Marshawn Kneeland’s story.
Marshawn Kneeland had the fame, the career of his dreams, a growing family, but his story shows that success is not everything. Whether due to a lack of willingness, encouragement, or acceptance, he did not have the therapy or support needed to overcome his mental struggles.
His story also highlights the need for mental health services among professional athletes. While they are scrutinized and evaluated every day, professional athletes often suppress their emotional and mental struggles. This is particularly true for NFL players, who are known for their strength and resilience. They fight through pain, physically on the field – and perhaps mentally, in turn. Mike MacCrory, who worked as a mental performance coach with the Dallas Mavericks, put it perfectly when he suggested:
“I think it’s hard to understand the pressure that athletes are under. They’re modern gladiators and they’re praised for the strength, their reliance is to suppress that they need help is counter to the culture that we built around athletes.”
Immediately following Kneeland’s death, the Dallas Cowboys made sure his teammates did in fact get mental health support as they grieve, bringing in therapists. More broadly, the NFL and the NFL Players Association have increased mental health resources for any and all players who played with Kneeland.
They are also encouraging players to use the NFL Life Line in the wake of this sudden death. The NFL Life Line was established in 2012, aimed at providing NFL players and their families with free, confidential, and independently operated mental health counseling resources.
Mental Health Struggles Can Happen to Anyone
Anyone can struggle with mental health problems, no matter their age, background, or social status.
Marshawn Kneeland was just 24 years old. He still had a lot of life to live, but that was cut short as a result of suicide.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15 and 24. Typically, it’s a result of underlying mental health conditions like depression. Research shows that 90 percent of people who die by suicide may have experienced symptoms of a mental health disorder (according to interviews with family, friends, and medical professionals).
Additionally, studies confirm that the vast majority (75 percent) of mental health conditions begin by the age of 24. This means that, even if Marshawn Kneeland did not previously show signs of mental health struggles, it’s possible that they were recently brewing. Mental health symptoms typically emerge during young adulthood. And the symptoms of depression often manifest differently in men.
What can we take away from this information? Mental health struggles can happen early, and they are not always predictable. The symptoms of mental illness are often hidden, silenced, or ignored. People are scared to ask for help. People are scared to admit they need help.
If you’re reading this article, we want you to know: You have the power to change the narrative. Mental health conditions are all around us, affecting men, women, teens, young adults, children. Young and old, rich and poor. By talking openly about mental health, you can help reduce the stigma. You can help people feel comfortable in getting help. You can lay the groundwork for others to open up.
The more we talk about it, the more normal it becomes—particularly for men, who tend to bottle up their emotions. So, next time you’re worrying about a loved one, or haven’t heard from them, do not hesitate to ask deep questions: How are you feeling? What’s bothering you? I’m here if you need to talk.
As Greg Ellis, former defensive end for the Cowboys, stated: “We all have to be more vocal in ways where, when you see struggle, it needs to be brought to the light.”
If you or your loved one is struggling with a mental health problem, and you’re concerned about their well-being, please do not hesitate to reach out for help. It’s never too early to get support, but it can be too late.
Turnbridge is a recognized mental health treatment provider for teens and young adults. We can provide supportive, unbiased, and professional guidance to help you move forward. We are just one call away – 877-581-1793.