FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Marshawn Neyland, 24, died Thursday morning from an apparent gunshot wound, according to law enforcement.
The team issued a statement on Thursday but did not mention the cause of death.
“It is with great sadness that the Dallas Cowboys announce the tragic passing of Marshawn Neyland this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
The Cowboys have made counseling resources available to all players, coaches and staff. The players are on their bye week and are not scheduled to practice again until Monday.
According to Frisco (Texas) Police, the department responded to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in locating a vehicle that eluded troopers during a chase that entered the city at approximately 10:39 PM CST on Wednesday.
DPS found Kneeland’s vehicle crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway. According to the report, Niland fled the scene on foot and officers searched the area with the assistance of K-9 units and drones.
About three hours later, Niland was found suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound. During the search, officers received information that Niland “expressed suicidal thoughts,” according to the report.
Nyland’s agent, Jonathan Persley, described his death as “pain that is difficult to put into words.”
“I am saddened to confirm that my client and dear friend Marshawn Niland passed away last night,” Bersley said in a statement. “I watched him work his way from a hopeful kid in West Michigan with a dream to becoming a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn gave his heart into every shot, every practice, and every moment on the field. Losing someone of his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can’t put into words.”
“My heart aches for his family, teammates and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time. I ask that you give his loved ones the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this devastating loss.”
The NFL issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened” by Neyland’s death, adding that the league “offered support and counseling resources” to the Cowboys.
“My heart is absolutely broken by the loss of Marshawn Neyland,” Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor said in a statement. “Marshawn was more than just a great football player – he was a great young man who meant a lot to our program and to me personally. His leadership, energy and smile were contagious, and he left a lasting impact on everyone in our program. After coaching him during my first season here, we developed a special bond that went beyond football. His passion for life and his teammates was unparalleled.” The entire Broncos football family is devastated, we send our deepest prayers to his family, teammates and everyone who loved him, Marshawn will remain a part of the Broncos brotherhood forever.
Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round pick out of Western Michigan in 2024, No. 56 overall. In Monday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he scored the Cowboys’ first touchdown, recovering a blocked punt in the end zones.
He missed two games this season due to injury and was credited with 15 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss and 6 quarterback hurries. As a junior, he missed six games with a knee injury and made 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, 13 quarterback pressures, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery.
Greg Ellis coached Neyland last year as an assistant with the Cowboys. He kept in touch with him and texted him before the season started.
“He embodied what you look for in a football player,” Ellis said. “He played the game hard. He was eager to learn. You hear a lot of things about that generation, but this wasn’t Marshawn. He was still a ‘Yes, sir’ type of guy. “No, sir.” He wanted extra help with things that were his own. Extra stuff, film study.
When the Cowboys selected Kneeland, his playing style was compared to that of Ellis, who was Dallas’ first-round pick in 1998 and had 77 sacks in 11 seasons with the team. “I wish I had or could have done more to help him in other areas of his life,” Ellis said.
Kneeland set records for tackles, sacks and tackles for loss at Goodwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan, before attending Western Michigan. In 38 group matches. He had 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 pass deflections. He was a second-team All-Mid-American Conference selection in 2023, finishing with 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in nine games.
The Cowboys have dealt with season tragedy in recent years. In 2012, linebacker Jerry Brown died in a car accident in which teammate Josh Brent was driving. In 2020, strength and conditioning coach Marcus Paul died the day before a game after suffering a medical emergency.
