The sports world was left heartbroken after reports surfaced that Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The 24-year-old was found near his crashed vehicle in Frisco, Texas, earlier this week, just hours after leading police on a chase and only days after celebrating his first NFL touchdown.
Now, new details have emerged revealing that before his death, Kneeland sent a chilling group text to his family saying goodbye.
According to police dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE, the message set off a wave of panic among his loved ones and law enforcement.
“They just received a text from him, a group text from him saying goodbye,” a dispatcher said in the recording. “They’re concerned for his welfare.”
Kneeland’s girlfriend, identified as Catalina, told authorities she had been trying to reach him and even contacted his agent, Jonathan Perzley.
“She’s saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness,” the dispatcher added. “Her quote was, ‘He will end it all.’” The NFL was also notified that Kneeland had been texting his family, with one dispatcher stating, “The NFL is calling Plano PD and the subject is texting his family goodbye.”
Police say the chase began around 10:33 p.m. Wednesday night when Texas DPS troopers attempted to pull him over in Addison for a traffic violation.
Kneeland reportedly refused to stop, and officers lost sight of his vehicle before discovering it crashed hours later along the Dallas Parkway, not far from the Cowboys’ facility. By 1:31 a.m., authorities found his body near the scene.
Just days before the tragedy, Kneeland was celebrating a milestone moment, scoring his first NFL touchdown during Monday Night Football. The Michigan native had been drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft and was quickly becoming one of the team’s promising young players.
But behind his growing success, Kneeland had been coping with deep personal loss. Earlier this year, in February 2024, his mother, Wendy Kneeland, passed away unexpectedly.
The news of Kneeland’s final moments adds even more heartbreak to an already devastating story.
Now, many are remembering not just the player he was becoming on the field, but the son, teammate, and young man who carried more than most ever knew.
