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Broncos hold moment of silence for Marshawn Kneeland ahead of TNF vs. Raiders

Meby: Nick Geddes11/07/25NickGeddesNews
Marshawn Kneeland
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Ahead of their Week 10 home matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday Night Football, the Denver Broncos held a moment of silence for Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who was found dead early Thursday morning. He was 24.

Kneeland was reportedly found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound early Thursday following a brief police pursuit that ended when police lost sight of Kneeland’s vehicle, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. He was later found dead in the immediate area of his abandoned vehicle.

Police had initially been dispatched to respond to “a welfare concern” at Kneeland’s residence around 11:40 p.m. CT on Wednesday, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. They did not make contact with anyone there. The Cowboys confirmed his death with a statement Thursday morning.

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

Marshawn Kneeland death: Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor releases statement on former Broncos, Dallas Cowboys standout

Kneeland, a 2024 second-round selection out of Western Michigan, Kneeland played in 18 NFL games over two seasons. In that time, he had 26 career tackles, five tackles for a loss and one sack. Days before his passing, Kneeland recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown in the Cowboys’ Week 9 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

Western Michigan head coach Lance Taylor reacted to news of Kneeland’s death with a statement provided to journalist Andrew Graham:

“My heart is absolutely broken over the loss of Marshawn Kneeland. Marshawn was so much more than an incredible football player — he was a remarkable young man who meant so much to our program and to me personally,” Taylor said. “His leadership, energy, and smile were infectious, and he left a lasting impact on everyone in our program.

“Having coached him during my first season here, we developed a special bond that went far beyond football. His passion for life and his teammates were unmatched. Our entire Bronco Football family is devastated, and we send our deepest prayers to his family, teammates, and all who loved him. Marshawn will forever be a part of the Bronco brotherhood.”