Marshawn Kneeland
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:48:07 PM Wikipedia source
Marshawn Kneeland (July 8, 2001 – November 6, 2025) was an American professional football defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played two seasons with the Cowboys until his death in November 2025. Kneeland played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos, earning second-team Mid-American Conference (MAC) honors in 2023, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft. During the 2025 season, Kneeland was found dead from a gunshot wound following a police pursuit hours prior. His death is being investigated as a suicide.
Infobox
Position
Defensive end
Born
(2001-07-08)July 8, 2001Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Died
November 6, 2025(2025-11-06) (aged 24)Frisco, Texas, U.S.
Height
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight
268 lb (122 kg)
High school
Godwin Heights (Wyoming, Michigan)
College
Western Michigan (2019–2023)
NFL draft
2024: 2nd round, 56th overall pick
Total tackles
26
Sacks
1.0
Fumble recoveries
1
Pass deflections
1
Touchdowns
1
Tables
Pre-draft measurables · Professional career
6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)
6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)
Height
6 ft 3 in(1.91 m)
Weight
267 lb(121 kg)
Arm length
mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- 34+1⁄2 in(0.88 m)
Hand span
9+1⁄8 in(0.23 m)
40-yard dash
4.75 s
10-yard split
1.66 s
20-yard split
2.77 s
20-yard shuttle
4.18 s
Three-cone drill
7.02 s
Vertical jump
35.5 in(0.90 m)
Broad jump
9 ft 11 in(3.02 m)
Bench press
21 reps
All values from NFL Combine
All values from NFL Combine
Height
All values from NFL Combine
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
| 6 ft 3 in(1.91 m) | 267 lb(121 kg) | mw- .mw- 34+1⁄2 in(0.88 m) | 9+1⁄8 in(0.23 m) | 4.75 s | 1.66 s | 2.77 s | 4.18 s | 7.02 s | 35.5 in(0.90 m) | 9 ft 11 in(3.02 m) | 21 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
· NFL career statistics
Bold
Bold
Legend
Bold
Legend
Career high
| Legend | |
| Bold | Career high |
· NFL career statistics
GP
GP
Year
GP
Team
GS
Games
Cmb
Games
Solo
Tackles
Ast
Tackles
Sck
Tackles
Sfty
Tackles
PD
Tackles
Int
Interceptions
Yds
Interceptions
Avg
Interceptions
Lng
Interceptions
TD
Interceptions
FF
Interceptions
FR
Fumbles
TD
2024
2024
Year
2024
Team
DAL
Games
11
Games
1
Tackles
14
Tackles
9
Tackles
5
Tackles
0.0
Tackles
0
Interceptions
1
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0.0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
1
Fumbles
0
2025
2025
Year
2025
Team
DAL
Games
7
Games
3
Tackles
12
Tackles
6
Tackles
6
Tackles
1.0
Tackles
0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0.0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
0
Fumbles
1
Fumbles
1
Career
Career
Year
Career
Team
18
Games
4
Games
26
Tackles
15
Tackles
11
Tackles
1.0
Tackles
0
Tackles
1
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0.0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0
Interceptions
0
Fumbles
2
Fumbles
1
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | Sfty | PD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FF | FR | TD | ||
| 2024 | DAL | 11 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | DAL | 7 | 3 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Career | 18 | 4 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
References
- www.cbsnews.comhttps://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/cowboys-return-from-bye-week-with-heavy-hearts-begin-healing-after-marshawn-kneelands-death/
- Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/sports/cowboys-return-bye-mourning-death-marshawn-kneeland--flm-2025-11-10/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/western-michigan-marshawn-kneeland-selected-by-dallas-cowboys/
- ESPN.comhttps://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/4429996
- MassLive.comhttps://www.masslive.com/hssn_feed_rev22_test/2018/10/godwin_heights_standout_earns.html
- MassLive.comhttps://www.masslive.com/hssn_feed_rev22_test/2018/10/godwin_heights_senior_marshawn.html
- MLivehttps://www.mlive.com/highschoolsports/2019/01/godwin-heights-lineman-marshawn-kneeland-announces-college-choice-via-video.html
- MLivehttps://www.mlive.com/broncos/2022/12/ex-wmu-lineman-marshawn-kneeland-joins-colorado-coach-prime-via-transfer-portal.html
- WOODTV.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20240308040519/https://www.woodtv.com/sports/broncos-marshawn-kneeland-to-stay-in-kalamazoo/
- WZZM 13https://archive.today/20240125005708/https://www.wzzm13.com/article/sports/college/godwin-heights-grad-marshawn-kneeland-staying-at-western-michigan/69-cdb4d5cd-8ee9-432d-922f-8a0657221231
- wmubroncos.comhttps://wmubroncos.com/sports/football/roster/marshawn-kneeland/12827
- "2025 Dallas Cowboys Media Guide"https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2025/DAL.pdf
- The Wall Street Journal
- NFL.comhttps://www.nfl.com/prospects/marshawn-kneeland/32004b4e-4542-6541-f4b3-41ddd574e6e9
- DraftScout.comhttps://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1049359&DraftYear=2024
- Pro-Football-Reference.comhttps://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KneeMa00.htm
- "Source: Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland avoids season-ending injury"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41665427
- CBS Sportshttps://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/cowboys-marshawn-kneeland-taking-advantage-of-opportunity/
- "Marshawn Kneeland steals show in Cowboys' first training camp practice"https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/onsi/news/marshawn-kneeland-steals-show-dallas-cowboys-first-training-camp-practice-2025-nfl-season
- "Cowboys add DE Marshawn Kneeland to their injury report"https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cowboys-add-de-marshawn-kneeland-to-their-injury-report
- mlivehttps://www.mlive.com/sports/2025/11/west-michigan-native-cowboys-dl-scores-first-nfl-touchdown-on-monday-night-football.html
- Dallas Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2024/06/30/dallas-cowboys-marshawn-kneeland-mother-memory-nfl-draft-rookie/
- The Tennesseanhttps://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2025/11/16/jeffery-simmons-injury-update-tennessee-titans-vs-texans-inactives-calvin-ridley/87193536007/
- CNNhttps://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/06/sport/football-nfl-dallas-cowyboys-marshawn-kneeland-dead
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/us-sport/marshawn-kneeland-dead-dallas-cowboys-age-b2860018.html
- The Dallas Morning Newshttps://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2025/11/06/dallas-cowboys-defensive-end-marshawn-kneeland-dies-at-24/
- AP Newshttps://apnews.com/article/cowboys-marshawn-kneeland-dies-9fcdc1bf7cba9cc2d88c78b647e57c11
- Dallas Cowboyshttps://www.dallascowboys.com/news/marshawn-kneeland-passes-away-at-age-24
- Peoplehttps://people.com/marshawn-kneeland-girlfriend-pregnant-expecting-first-baby-after-death-11848235