Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland dies of apparent self-inflicted gunshot

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Niland died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police in Frisco, Texas, said Thursday. He was 24.

“It is with great sadness that the Dallas Cowboys announce that Marshawn Niland tragically passed away this morning.” the Cowboys said in a statement.. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers for Marshawn go out to his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

The Frisco Police Department said it was called at approximately 10:39 p.m. Wednesday to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in locating a vehicle that entered the city during a pursuit. State law enforcement said in a statement Thursday that they attempted to stop the vehicle for a traffic violation, but the driver refused to stop.

The vehicle was soon found empty, crashed on South Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway. The man, later identified as Niland, a resident of nearby Plano, reportedly fled the scene on foot.

During the search, Frisco police were told Niland was expressing “suicidal thoughts,” the department said in a statement. Police sent an audio recording of the incident released Thursday TMZreported that Niland sent out a group message to say goodbye to his family and that police searching in the dark used thermal imaging to help find him.

“Niland was later found at 1:31 a.m. and died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Fresno police said in a statement. “The cause/manner of death will be determined by the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office.”

The Plano Police Department attended Niland's residence at the request of Frisco Police Wednesday night at 11 p.m., but officers were unable to make contact with anyone there. According to Plano police, officers responded to a separate welfare call related to Niland at the same address at 11:40 p.m., but were again unable to make contact.

Niland was selected by the Western Michigan Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 draft, less than three months after his mother, Wendy Niland, died suddenly of an undisclosed illness. Niland told the Dallas Morning News For the past year, he's carried some of his mother's ashes with him everywhere he goes, in a tiny urn on a chain around his neck.

“She helped me a lot in my younger years when I started playing football,” Niland said. “I've always had a dream. I always told her, 'I'm going to the NFL,' and I made it happen. It's a tough situation, just knowing that she's going to see me potentially going to the NFL and going through that.” [the process]. She's still with me. I have an urn containing her ashes that I carry with me everywhere. I still feel like she's watching me.”

Niland played in 18 games, including four starts, and had 26 tackles, four quarterback hits and one sack. On Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals, Niland returned a blocked punt in the end zone for his first NFL touchdown.

“I have watched him go from a promising kid from Western Michigan with a dream to becoming a respected professional with the Dallas Cowboys,” Niland's agent, Jonathan Perzley, said in a statement. “Marshawn put his heart and soul into every frame, every practice and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit and kindness is a pain I can barely put into words.”

Niland's family also released a statement Thursday.

“We are devastated by this enormous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief,” the family said. “As Marshawn made his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field – as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson and friend. He was kind, determined, humble and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on in the countless hearts he inspired.”