HEARTBREAKING: Eagles star reportedly faints in locker room after learning of college teammate Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland’s tragic death at 24 — just days after his first NFL TD, as Texas authorities detail the frantic police chase, abandoned car on Dallas Parkway, and body discovered at 1:30 a.m., leaving the entire NFL in stunned grief!
The Philadelphia Eagles locker room fell silent in shock on Thursday afternoon after reports emerged that defensive end Marshawn Kneeland of the Dallas Cowboys had tragically passed away at just 24 years old. According to sources close to the team, one of Kneeland’s former college teammates — now a rising Eagles star — collapsed after hearing the devastating news. Teammates rushed to his side as medical staff quickly responded, describing the emotional scene as “pure heartbreak in real time.”
Kneeland, who had been carving out a promising NFL career after being drafted from Western Michigan, was reportedly found dead early Thursday morning in Texas. Authorities revealed that the young defensive end had been involved in a police pursuit late Wednesday night before his car was discovered abandoned along the Dallas Parkway. Around 1:30 a.m., his body was found nearby from what officials have described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police sources confirmed that before his death, Kneeland had sent farewell messages to close family members and his girlfriend, prompting immediate concern. His girlfriend contacted authorities after receiving a deeply alarming text, fearing something was terribly wrong. Officers later traced his vehicle and began an urgent search. “It’s the kind of call no one ever wants to receive,” one local officer said. “He was just a kid with so much ahead of him.”
When news reached the Eagles facility, the reaction was described as “instant disbelief.” The player who fainted — a former Western Michigan standout and one of Kneeland’s closest friends — had shared years of training, dorm life, and dreams of the NFL with him. In the aftermath, he was reportedly consoled by teammates and coaches, overwhelmed by grief and exhaustion. One witness told reporters, “He just kept repeating, ‘Not Marshawn, not him.’”
Kneeland’s passing came just days after his friend’s first career NFL touchdown — a milestone the two had once promised to celebrate together. That painful irony hit especially hard inside the Eagles locker room. “We talked about this moment for years,” the player said through tears later that evening. “He was the one who kept me believing when times got tough. Now I’d trade every touchdown just to have one more call with him.”
Across the league, tributes poured in from players, coaches, and fans alike. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy called Kneeland “a bright soul who lifted every room he walked into.” Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts posted a simple message on social media: “Rivals on the field, brothers in life. Rest easy, 97.” Even longtime Cowboys rivals expressed heartbreak, a rare moment of unity in a sport defined by competition.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released an official statement offering condolences to Kneeland’s family, friends, and teammates. “This tragedy is a sobering reminder that behind every jersey is a human being facing unseen battles,” the statement read. Teams across the country are expected to observe a pre-game moment of silence this weekend in his honor, including at the upcoming Eagles–Cowboys matchup — now carrying an unimaginable emotional weight.
As both locker rooms grieve, the tragedy has sparked new conversations about mental health support in the NFL. Former players have called for expanded counseling programs and peer networks to protect athletes from silent struggles. For now, though, the league mourns together — united in loss. “Football gave us a brotherhood,” the Eagles player said quietly after regaining his composure. “But losing Marshawn… it reminds us how fragile that brotherhood really is.”
