Marshawn Kneeland’s Tragedy Brings Spotlight on Athletes’ Mental Health Struggles

Marshawn Kneeland was set to have a breakout year for the Dallas Cowboys and would have done so alongside Quinnen Williams.

Marshawn Kneeland’s Tragedy Brings Spotlight on Athletes’ Mental Health Struggles

Marshawn Kneeland took his own life (Image via People)

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Anyone who follows or is associated with football usually expects roster cuts and other rumors to light up their notifications. Instead, it was the tragic passing of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland that left everyone shaking.

He was all of 24 years old when the franchise first released information about his death. As time passed, more and more information came to light.

The Frisco Police Department released a statement detailing how the Western Michigan Broncos alum died. They detailed that the situation started when the Texas Department of Public Safety was pursuing him.

They called on the Frisco Police Department to assist once Kneeland entered the city with his vehicle. A while later, the police found his crashed vehicle and then proceeded to search with drones and a K-9 unit.

When they finally found the 2024 2nd round pick at 1:31 am, he was deemed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot. TMZ Sports got hold of the police dispatch audio, and it reveals chilling details of how Marshawn Kneeland was looking to end his life.

We’re talking to his girlfriend, she’s trying to call his agent. We’re trying to get her to call him 1st, but she’s saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness. And her quote was, ‘he will end it all.’… I just received a text from him saying, ‘goodbye’, they are concerned for his welfare.

Police dispatch call revealed

This dispatch audio reveals Marshawn Kneeland’s family was concerned about his mental health, as he had been struggling for a while. The Michigan native lost his mother 2 months before the 2024 NFL Draft and carries her ashes in a necklace.

Dan Orlovsy details how athletes struggle with mental health

Once those details came out, the NFL and its partner networks, along with the teams, have been passing around the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number.

Then, while speaking about Marshawn Kneeland’s death on NFL Live, host Laura Rutledge asked how everyone in the football world and society can help, especially when people do not speak up about their struggles.

As an athlete, I would’ve never told you I was struggling. If you called me and said, ‘Are you good?’, I’m going to be like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ I feel like I’m conditioned like that. I feel like, honestly, as a man, I’m conditioned to be that way.

Dan Orlovsky replied

Orlovsky then went on to detail how, when people say they are in a bad place, it does not mean they are a bad person. All they need is some help, and it could turn their life around.

He then referenced how life is for NFL athletes. Marshawn Kneeland scored his only NFL touchdown after recovering a blocked punt against the Arizona Cardinals this past week.

Dan Orlovsky believes that as an NFL player, a celebration lasts all of 10 seconds. Then the next minutes, hours, and days are normal. He believes those peaks and valleys are tough to handle.

Matt Rhule talks about the importance of mental health

News about Marshawn Kneeland’s death spread like wildfire, with everyone now talking about mental health. On that topic, Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule said this:

Marshawn Kneeland after scoring the block punt touchdown
Marshawn Kneeland after scoring the block punt touchdown (Image via People)

None of us knows what people are going through… 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 TD just a couple of days ago, and to the outside world, you’d think he’s at the pinnacle. But he was dealing with something.

Matt Rhule said to reporters

The former Carolina Panthers head coach believes it is important to check on everyone. He reiterated how it is not right to just pass baseless comments without knowing the true reason for their behavior.

All of these conversations point to the problem that athletes and people in general face. The death of Marshawn Kneeland at that young age has forced people to sit up and talk about it.

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