Pregnant Girlfriend of Late Cowboys Star Shares Emotional Update Months Later

In the wake of an unimaginable tragedy, a community of love, family, and football has wrapped its arms around Catalina Mancera. Mancera, the girlfriend of the late Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, shared a heartfelt update on her pregnancy journey.

Kneeland tragically passed away in November 2025 at just 24 years old. The defensive end took a bullet to his head and succumbed to his self-inflicted wound amid a police chase, as confirmed by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Frisco Police Department. He had scored his first touchdown only a few days earlier.

Surrounded by friends, family, and a network of enduring support, Mancera recently celebrated her baby shower. She expressed her gratefulness to the people who have been there for her in the aftermath of Kneeland’s suicide.

Words can’t explain how thankful I am for the people God has placed in my life. In such a hard season, the love and support surrounding me have made everything feel a little brighter.

Mancera reflected in an Instagram post

She continued with a gratitude note to everyone, especially her family, who hosted the event in Michigan, as well as Kneeland’s family. Mancera, whose due date is in June, has faced the depth of grief with remarkable grace.

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Following his passing, the Dallas Cowboys organization immediately stepped in to provide long-term stability for Mancera and the baby. Under the leadership of coach Brian Schottenheimer and the organization, the team established the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund alongside a dedicated scholarship fund for his daughter.

We want to make sure she is taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives, it’s very important to our guys and to us. The organization has been amazing, we’ve started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund where we can all give and support Catalina.

Schottenheimer said

Marshawn Kneeland’s former teammate Juanyeh Thomas laments the organization reassigning the former’s number

The Dallas Cowboys’ rookie minicamp has ignited controversy following the team’s decision to reassign jersey No. 94. During minicamp, the Cowboys assigned No. 94 to undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kelvin Gilliam, a transfer from Virginia Tech.

The decision quickly drew public criticism from former Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas, who played alongside Kneeland for one and a half seasons before signing with the Indianapolis Colts in free agency this offseason.

Thomas voiced his displeasure on social media, arguing that the organization should have temporarily retired the jersey out of respect for his late teammate.

That 94 shoulda been off limits til my brothers contract fully expired… Just don’t feel right fr #94Forever.

Thomas wrote on X

That 94 shoulda been off limits til my brothers contract fully expired… Just don’t feel right fr…#94Forever💙🕊

— Juanyeh Thomas (@STG_Yeh1) May 2, 2026

The Cowboys heavily honored Kneeland throughout the remainder of the previous season, but the swift re-issuance of his jersey has raised questions about how the franchise handles his memory moving forward.

Unlike many other NFL franchises, the Dallas Cowboys do not officially retire jersey numbers. Several users noted this in Thomas’ comments while arguing that the number should have been passed down in the first place.

The legendary No. 94 has been worn by several legends of the game, from Hall of Famer Charles Haley to DeMarcus Lawrence and Randy Gregory. It’s clear that the franchise views numbers as reusable equipment rather than sacred relics, meaning no jersey is off-limits.

While a sizable amount of fans supported the decision by the management. They argued the suicide angle, throwing acid at the quarterback’s struggles.

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