Marshawn Kneeland Twitter:

DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys announced Thursday morning that defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland died at the age of 24, sending shockwaves through the NFL community and prompting thousands to revisit the young star's social media presence—a digital diary that now serves as a haunting reminder of how quickly life can change.

Kneeland's final tweet, posted on May 24, 2024, carried a prophetic weight: "Enjoy this. It goes by fast??". The message, shared alongside a photo with his former defensive line coach at Western Michigan, has gone viral since news of his passing broke, with fans and fellow players struggling to process the loss of a rising talent who had just scored his first NFL touchdown days earlier.

Kneeland's cause of death has been ruled a "suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot wound," per Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Nick Harris, adding another layer of tragedy to a story that has left the football world reeling.

From Two-Star Recruit to Second-Round Dreams

Marshawn Kneeland's Twitter and Instagram accounts tell the story of a young man who defied the odds at every turn. One of his most celebrated posts came after the 2024 NFL Draft, captioned simply: "From 2 star to 2nd round ?? thank you everyone for the love and support".

That journey—from overlooked high school prospect to second-round NFL draft pick—represented everything Kneeland worked for. His final Instagram post captured the moment Cowboys executive Will McClay called to tell him he'd be joining America's Team, handing the phone to owner Jerry Jones who said, "Marshawn, well first of all, we're gonna put a star on that helmet".

The video, now viewed hundreds of thousands of times since his death, shows a young man's dream coming true in real time. His smile, his excitement, his gratitude—all preserved forever in digital amber.

"I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night. I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys." — Jonathan Perzley, Kneeland's agent

A Career Defined by Resilience

Kneeland was a second-round pick out of Western Michigan at the 2024 NFL Draft. He scored his first career touchdown in the NFL on Monday night when he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone during the Cowboys' defeat to the Arizona Cardinals—just three days before his death.

The moment epitomized everything scouts saw in him: relentless effort, football intelligence, and an uncanny ability to be around the ball. Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer captured Kneeland's character in a tribute shared by NFL Network's Jane Slater: "He was a great person, eager to learn … wanted to be great. He didn't take any crap from anyone on the field".

In Monday's loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he scored the Cowboys' first touchdown, recovering a blocked punt in the end zone. The Cowboys are on their bye week and are not scheduled to return to practice until Monday. That touchdown—his first and last—will forever be linked to the images now circulating across social media: Kneeland celebrating in the end zone, living every kid's dream.

Social Media as Memorial

In the hours since the Cowboys' announcement, Kneeland's social media accounts have transformed from career highlights into impromptu memorials. Fans flooded his Twitter feed with tributes, many pointing to his May 2024 post—"Enjoy this. It goes by fast??"—as evidence of a young man who understood life's fleeting nature.

The NFL community's response has been overwhelming. Former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant tweeted simply, "Damn RIP ?⭐️." Current teammate Juanyeh Thomas wrote, "Sick my stomach, my brotha man??…." Sports journalists and analysts across the league shared their shock and memories of interviewing the soft-spoken defender.

"It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning," said the Cowboys in a statement. "Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organisation. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family".

The Weight Behind the Words

Kneeland is survived by his girlfriend Catalina and family members. Perzley revealed that Kneeland passed away on November 5, while the team announced the news on November 6. The timing—during the Cowboys' bye week—meant teammates were scattered when they learned the news, adding to the surreal nature of the tragedy.

"Just being able to come in, obviously understanding the game, and being able to develop and not have to worry about all the things that come with being a rookie," Kneeland remarked to DallasCowboys.com's Patrik Walker in August. "Shoot, just being able to focus on football, and fully focus on football, I think is a huge thing, compared to this time last year".

Those words—spoken just months ago—reveal a player finding his footing, growing more comfortable in his role, looking forward to a bright future. He missed two games this season due to injury and was credited with 15 tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries. As a rookie, he missed six games with a knee injury and had 17 tackles, two tackles for loss, 13 quarterback pressures, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.

A Community in Mourning

"We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland," the NFL said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counselling resources".

The response across the league has been swift. The Washington Commanders tweeted their condolences. Division rivals set aside competitive animosity to mourn a fellow player. The NFL Players Association said the loss would be "felt profoundly" across its membership.

Western Michigan, where Kneeland built his reputation as an underdog fighter, shared tributes from coaches and former teammates. Kneeland recorded 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, three forced fumbles and three pass breakups across 38 games for Western Michigan in college—numbers that earned him a shot at the NFL despite his two-star high school ranking.

When Dreams and Reality Collide

Marshawn Kneeland's Twitter account now stands as both celebration and cautionary tale. His posts documented a life lived with purpose, a career built on defying expectations, and dreams that became reality against long odds. But they also capture something more elusive and painful: the reminder that success, fame, and achievement don't insulate anyone from life's darkest moments.

"Enjoy this. It goes by fast??."

Seven words that have taken on a meaning Kneeland could never have intended. Seven words that thousands are now reading through tears, trying to reconcile the joy in that May 2024 photo with the grief of November 2025. Seven words that have become his final message to a world that wasn't ready to say goodbye.

As the NFL community processes this loss, Kneeland's social media presence serves as reminder of what was and what might have been—a two-star recruit who became a second-round pick, who scored a touchdown on Monday Night Football, who posted about enjoying the journey because it goes by so fast.

He was right. It does go by fast. Sometimes, heartbreakingly so.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Support is available 24/7.