One of the more tragic stories to come out on Thursday was the death of second-year, pro football player, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. If you're not up on the current NFL rosters (I count myself in that group), his name might not ring a bell. Completely understandable, since he has not been a professional for all that long.
Here's some background before we get into the meat of the column on America's kids:
Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, died early Thursday, apparently by taking his own life following a police chase, law enforcement officials said. He was 24.
At around 10:40 p.m. on Wednesday, the Frisco Police Department dispatched officers to assist with the Texas Department of Public Safety in locating a vehicle that had “evaded troopers during a pursuit,” according to a statement.
The officers briefly lost sight of the vehicle, but found that it had crashed on the southbound Dallas Parkway.
Sadly, the young man - at that point - chose to take his own life, per authorities:
The driver, later identified as Mr. Kneeland, fled the scene on foot. While conducting a search, officers learned that Mr. Kneeland had “expressed suicidal ideations,” the statement said. At 1:31 a.m., he was found with “what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died Thursday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, according to law authorities.https://t.co/VJk9gwLaaK
— ESPN (@espn) November 6, 2025
He was just 24 years old.
During his short life, Kneeland was dealt a loss that likely brought at least some of the heartache his heart and mind were forced to shoulder, at what should have been a time to celebrate his hard work paying off. After growing up and excelling while playing high school football in Grand Rapids, MI, he went on to even more outstanding play in college at Western Michigan University. But he lost a crucial pillar of his support system just before moving on to the National Football League - his mom:
While he was preparing for the N.F.L. draft, his mother, Wendy, died unexpectedly.
“It was tough, I had a week to prepare,” he told The Dallas Morning News. “But I had to lock in. I put myself in the best position, and she helped me out a lot just leading up to the draft.”
And of course, he was drafted during the 2024 draft by the Dallas Cowboys; Monday night marked his 18th game playing while wearing their uniform.
This game, this week's Monday Night Football match-up against, coincidentally, my Arizona Cardinals, was extra-special for Kneeland, in fact, since he garnered his first-ever NFL touchdown--after the Cowboys managed to block a punt. And as you can see in the clip below, he was one of several in the pack of defensive linemen who scrambled after the self-inflicted error by the Cards. Awesome work!
Watch:
Cowboys block the punt and recover for a touchdown!
— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2025
AZvsDAL on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/JIYWSGb85q
In reaction to the player's death--as I mentioned, a man who is only a handful of years out of his college career--Matt Rhule, the head football coach for the University of Nebraska's team, had some significant words of advice during a Cornhuskers press conference on Thursday.
Now, I understand I might get grumbles from the peanut gallery on sharing something so feel-good/touchy-feely, when we have important issues like the administration's ongoing legal wranglings, the now-37-day government shutdown, the off-year election results to sift through.
Three minutes is an eternity in the age of social media sprinting-to-the-next controversy but trust me on this one. It's worth watching all the way through--and sharing with your friends and loved ones, now that I think on it.
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Anyway, Rhule's heartfelt statement is stellar here, off-the-cuff, and he has a message reaching far beyond athletes' mental health:
Nebraska HC Matt Rhule took 3 minutes today to talk about mental health following the tragic death of #Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 6, 2025
“Our generation of kids — my kids — they all just say, ‘Yeah, I’m fine. I’m straight.’ You really gotta unearth it. … That young man scored a… https://t.co/eR5zGGRp4D pic.twitter.com/0uuvOuMSwR
"None of us know what people are going through," Rhule said, "That's why I think we all should be careful about what we say to people. I think we should be careful about what we tweet about people. I think we should be cognizant of what everyone is going through."
He added that one way he implements this with his players asking them not to wear headphones while eating in the school cafeteria. Instead, he tells them, "sit down with someone, go 'How're you doin', man? What's goin' on with you?'" The easy reaction as human beings, he explains, when we see someone dealing with negative emotions, is to keep a distance and think to ourselves: "That guy is messed up." He reminds us that "everyone's suffering" to some degree with problems, and we should see this as an opportunity.
Rhule sent his condolences to the family, while adding that he has been asked to give the eulogy for former players who have, unfortunately, made the same choice as Kneeland.
The story he tells of one player, Adrian Robinson, who took his own life, is heartbreaking. "I just wish, in my own life, I could go back and say to [Robinson], 'How are you doin'?'" the coach said.
Robinson, who played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, and the Washington Redskins, passed away at age 25 in 2015.
Rhule continued, "I just think it's a time for us in the world to be kind to people and, at the same time, care about people and ask about people."
“Our generation of kids — my kids — they all just say, ‘Yeah, I’m fine. I’m straight.’ You really gotta unearth it," the coach stated. "I look at road trips, travel, time together, practices, as a chance to impact young people's lives and be around them."
He then encouraged everyone of any age, even outside the sports world, to "get with your own kids, the people that you work with--just check on them."
He underlined the added tragedy of the timing of Kneeland's death:
"That young man scored a TD just a couple days ago, and to the outside world you’d think he’s at the pinnacle. But he was dealing with something — I don’t know what it was. But I pray for him, him and his family.”
I add my prayers, too. Here's a positive note for the university where Rhule works. Just a week ago, Nebraska locked down a two-year extension on his contract (running through 2032)--which is an extraordinary plus for the student-athletes on the Huskies team and everyone who roots for them. And it's no wonder on the numbers front; ESPN reported that "Nebraska is 6-2 this season, and Rhule led the program to its first bowl game since 2016 last year."
Back to Kneeland. Hard as I tried, I wasn't able to nail down the date of the following TV interview clip, but what current Cowboys quarterback, Dak Prescott, tells the Sportscenter co-hosts is notable. He is a vocal advocate for mental health in the league:
Dak Prescott has always been one of the strongest voices for mental health in the NFL.
— DakMuse (@DakMuse4) November 6, 2025
I can’t imagine what he or that locker room is feeling right now.
Check on your people. Tell them you love them. Life is fragile.
Once again, RIP Marshawn Kneeland ❤️ You were loved. Always. https://t.co/qfRV42FZ6c pic.twitter.com/KwVx4wtkI9
Now, I want to leave you with this striking clip from warm-ups before Monday's contest against Arizona, and it's of Prescott. He's apparently a man of faith, who says a silent prayer before every game:
Dak Prescott taking a long moment here before Monday Night Football. Have to think he said some words for his late mother, Peggy, who passed away from colon cancer 12 years ago today. pic.twitter.com/lgUnA2EWBm
— Jeff Kolb (@JeffKolbFOX4) November 3, 2025
It sounds like he may have had something on his heart this week, if the X post commentary is accurate. I'd like to believe Prescott reached out - or tried to reach out - to his teammate about his faith in Jesus Christ. Either way, this is an encouraging behavior to see from professional athletes in the modern day. Hopefully, the influence of people like Dak Prescott and Matt Rhule will act as a much-needed lighthouse for these young men going forward.
[Editor's Note: This article was edited for clarity post-publication.]
