TIME CHANGE: Due to honoring Marshawn Kneeland with a moment of silence and unity, the NFL has officially adjusted the kickoff time for the Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders matchup.
DETROIT – In a poignant gesture amid profound grief, the NFL has announced a schedule adjustment for this weekend’s Detroit Lions vs. Washington Commanders matchup, shifting the kickoff time to accommodate a league-wide moment of silence and unity honoring Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. The 24-year-old rising star, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, tragically passed away early Thursday morning in Frisco, Texas, from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police pursuit, sending shockwaves through the league just days after his first career touchdown.
The Lions-Commanders game, originally slated for a standard afternoon slot in Week 10, will now kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday at Ford Field – an hour earlier than the typical 4:25 p.m. window – to allow for the extended pre-game ceremony. This marks the second major NFL game this week to incorporate such a tribute, following a solemn moment of silence observed before Thursday Night Football between the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High. There, fans and players stood in near-reverent hush as a black-and-white photo of Kneeland was displayed on the jumbotron, with Broncos announcer Conor McGahey intoning, “The Denver Broncos join the Dallas Cowboys and the entire NFL community in mourning… please stand and join in a moment of silence to remember the life of Marshawn Kneeland.”
The NFL’s decision underscores a growing commitment to mental health awareness in the wake of Kneeland’s death, which authorities described as stemming from suicidal ideations expressed during a late-night welfare check around 11:40 p.m. Wednesday. Frisco police reported that Kneeland, driving a vehicle associated with a traffic violation, evaded officers, crashed on Dallas Parkway, and fled on foot before being located deceased at 1:31 a.m. inside a portable restroom. The Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office is set to confirm the official cause, but initial reports point unequivocally to suicide. The Cowboys, on their bye week, released a statement expressing “extreme sadness,” noting Kneeland as a “beloved teammate” and extending prayers to his girlfriend, Catalina, and family.
Kneeland’s untimely passing – coming less than 72 hours after he scooped up a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown in Dallas’ 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football – has elicited an outpouring of tributes from across the league. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a standout at Western Michigan University where he earned second-team All-MAC honors in 2023 with 57 tackles and 4.5 sacks, Kneeland had deep ties to the Lions organization. During the 2024 pre-draft process, he visited the team’s Allen Park facility, leaving a lasting impression on defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. “Special kid… that’s very unfortunate,” Sheppard said Thursday, pausing to reflect on Kneeland’s resilience amid personal adversities, including the recent loss of his mother, whose ashes he wore on a necklace during his draft night. “Whether you deal with anything or you live a joyous life… you never want to see a kid at 24 pass away.”
For Detroit, the adjustment carries added emotional weight. The Lions, who nearly selected Kneeland before the Cowboys traded up for him at No. 56 overall, view him as one of their own – a gritty, high-motor defender whose story of overcoming hardship mirrored the “tough, hard-working” ethos championed by GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell. Fans in the Motor City, already buzzing about a potential NFC showdown, now prepare to channel their roar into remembrance. “The Pride is ready to roar, but with heavy hearts,” said one Lions supporter on social media, echoing sentiments from X posts calling for every stadium to honor the “hometown kid” who “poured his heart into every snap.”
The broader NFL community has rallied in solidarity. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, speaking at his alma mater Haughton High School, choked up: “Heavy, heavy heart today… I hurt for Marshawn, his family, his girlfriend, every single one of my teammates.” Former teammate Micah Parsons, now with the Green Bay Packers after an August trade, posted an Instagram tribute: “I’m sorry little brother, I hope you find peace.” Kneeland’s agent, Jon Perzley, described him as a “dearest friend” who “fought his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan to a respected professional,” while his family issued a statement pleading for privacy: “We are devastated… As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field, he held an even more special place off the field – as a devoted son, brother, uncle… friend.”
Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor, who bonded with Kneeland during his tenure, called him a “remarkable young man” whose “leadership, energy, and smile were infectious.” The NFL, which has provided counseling resources to the Cowboys, emphasized in its statement: “Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends, and teammates.”
As the Lions take the field Sunday, expect helmets adorned with decals bearing Kneeland’s No. 94, a sea of Honolulu blue and silver standing in unified silence, and a renewed focus on the fragility of life behind the gridiron glamour. “Moments like this strip the game down to what it really is: people, not players,” one X user poignantly noted, capturing the sentiment rippling through the league. In a sport defined by collisions and comebacks, Kneeland’s legacy – one of perseverance, spirit, and unyielding heart – endures as a beacon amid the sorrow.
Fans are urged to check updated schedules on NFL.com or team apps, with broadcast details to follow on FOX. For resources on mental health support, visit the NFL’s Player Care Foundation or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
