As the Dallas Cowboys return to their training facility on Monday for the first time since the tragic death of Marshawn Kneeland, team executive vice president Stephen Jones announced that the organization is collaborating with Kneeland”s family to determine the most fitting way to honor his memory.
In a statement on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, Jones emphasized the importance of perspective in light of recent events. “Certainly, it puts everything into perspective,” he remarked. “You”re playing a game 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”ll be first and foremost. But then we do know, like anything, you”ve 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 have already observed moments of silence for Kneeland before games, and public address announcers have communicated messages highlighting mental health resources. However, according to Jones, the specifics of how the Cowboys will further commemorate Kneeland are still being developed.
The team is set to face the Las Vegas Raiders next Monday, with their first home game scheduled for November 23 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kneeland, who was just 24 years old, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police chase early last Thursday morning. Following the chase, he was involved in an accident and fled his vehicle on foot before being located by authorities. Jones received the heartbreaking news shortly after the incident. “Anytime you get news like that, your heart just, obviously, it”s like a hole going through it and you”re just heartbroken,” he said. “Certainly, hoping that wasn”t the case. Found out in the middle of the night, so woke up after finally got a little bit of sleep and woke up and was hoping it was a dream, but unfortunately it wasn”t.”
Jones expressed the profound impact of Kneeland”s passing, stating, “And, of course, the call we got on Marshawn is the worst of all. You certainly get other calls that aren”t good and are alarming, but certainly when there”s a loss of life, it”s just heartbreaking and tragic and the worst thing you can imagine.”
Drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft from Western Michigan, Kneeland made a significant impression on the team. “The biggest thing was his energy and the way he played the game. He had a big passion and love for the game,” Jones noted. “He played with a high motor. He loved to get after it. Certainly, that jumped off the tape when you watched Marshawn when we were scouting him. I mean he just jumped off the tape, how he hustled, how he played the game, his passion for the game. And certainly, he was that way as a person and played that way for us, and we”re just going to miss him so much.”
