Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones offered the first public comments from the organization the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland on his radio show on 105.3 The Fan and the team announced plans how they would honor him for the remainder of the season.
The Cowboys wear a helmet decal, per a team spokesman. They will also be wearing special t-shirts before the next two games against the Las Vegans Raiders on Nov. 17 and the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 23. There will be a moment of silence and video tribute before the home game against the Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Catalina (his girlfriend) and Marshawn’s family will attend the Eagles game.
Jones said it was tragic and heartbreaking when he awakened by a call informing him that Kneeland committed suicide last Thursday night. According to the Frisco police, Kneeland died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“The call we got on Marshawn was the worst of all,” Jones said Monday. “Anytime you get news like that, it’s like a hole going through your heart. You’re heartbroken you just missed, heartbroken and certainly hoping that that wasn’t the case. Found out in the middle of the night. So woke up and was hoping it was a dream, but unfortunately, it wasn’t. You always know that those are, more often than not, that those middle of the night calls feels are almost always bad calls. They’re not good. And imagine, you know, the thoughts that go through your mind. And certainly it was one of those calls, not a good one.”
The Cowboys returned to work Monday for the first time after last Sunday’s bye. The players and the team remain in mourning for Kneeland as they continue to process his death and attempt to move forward with the season.
‘This is very difficult,” Jones said. “I can’t imagine for his family. And then of course, you talk about his extended family, which is his teammates and the Cowboys organization and everybody who cared and loved Marshawn so much.”
Services are still pending. Jones said the Cowboys are working with the family on the details.
Teams across the league held a moment of silence ahead of their games last week in Kneeland’s honor.
The Cowboys (3-5-1) return action on Nov. 17 at the Las Vegas Raiders. Football suddenly doesn’t seem so important.
“It certainly puts everything in perspective,” Jones said. “We’re playing a game that’s work that means a lot to a lot of people, but there are things a lot more important than that. Certainly, that’s what we’re going through this week, so that will be first and foremost. But then we do know, like anything, we got to get back to work. We just want to continue to honor Marshawn and do everything the very best way we can.”
The Cowboys took Kneeland, 24, with the No. 56 overall pick out of Western Michigan in the 2024 NFL Draft. He had 12 tackles and a sack in seven games this season.
“He played with a high motor,” Jones said. “He loved to get after it. Certainly, that jumped off the tape when we were scouting him. He just jumped off the tape in terms of how he hustled, how he played the game, his passion for the game. And he certainly was that way as a person. He played that way for us. We’re just going to miss him so much.”
