Cowboys coach says late NFL player Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend is pregnant; team launches memorial fund

Marshawn Kneeland, who appeared successful 18 games with the Dallas Cowboys since his 2024 NFL rookie season, died astatine the property of 24, but determination is caller anticipation that the precocious antiaircraft lineman’s bequest volition unrecorded on.

On Wednesday, Cowboys caput manager Brian Schottenheimer revealed Kneeland's girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, is expecting the couple's child.

"[Catalina is] pregnant, and truthful we privation to marque definite she is taken attraction of and the babe is taken attraction of for the remainder of their lives," Schottenheimer told reporters. "Our guys — it’s precise important to them and to us."

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Marshawn Kneeland of the Dallas Cowboys during the nationalist anthem earlier a crippled against the Cincinnati Bengals astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, Dec. 9, 2024. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Schottenheimer besides revealed that the squad launched a memorial money honoring Kneeland and supporting Catalina. The first-year Dallas caput manager besides recalled immoderate of the memories helium shared with the erstwhile NFL player.

"Marshawn loved the words ‘one love,’" Schottenheimer explained. "So, we talked a batch astir emotion arsenic we grieve."

FOOTBALL COMMUNITY REACTS TO COWBOYS DEFENSIVE END MARSHAWN KNEELAND'S DEATH: 'GONE TOO SOON'

Schottenheimer noted that helium volition retrieve Kneeland for being 1 of "the astir playful spirits of immoderate young antheral I’ve been around."

Dallas Cowboys caput manager Brian Schottenheimer earlier a crippled against the Washington Commanders astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, Oct. 19, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)

"His grin could instrumentality you to your knees," the manager recounted. "And, successful presumption of him arsenic an athlete, nary 1 had a amended centrifugal than him. So, my bosom is heavy.

"Our team's bosom is heavy. We don't determination on, but we bash determination forward."

Mancera precocious shared a connection astir the heartbreaking loss. 

"My saccharine baby, words could ne'er explicit however breached I feel," she wrote successful a societal media post. "You’re my everything. I’ll emotion you everlastingly my beauteous angel."

Dallas Cowboys antiaircraft extremity Marshawn Kneeland stands connected the tract aft a crippled against the Baltimore Ravens astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, Aug. 16, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)

Frisco constabulary said the antiaircraft lineman died of an evident self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities responded aft a operator reportedly evaded constabulary during a chase. Responding officers recovered a conveyance crashed adjacent the southbound lanes of a section parkway. Kneeland fled connected foot, constabulary reported.

Authorities besides said Kneeland contacted his household via substance connection anterior to his decease to archer them goodbye, constabulary told dispatchers, according to audio obtained and reviewed by People. The probe remains ongoing.

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Shortly aft the tragedy, the Cowboys released a statement, saying, "It is with utmost sadness that the Dallas Cowboys stock that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed distant this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and subordinate of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his woman Catalina and his family."

The Cowboys selected Kneeland successful the 2nd circular of the 2024 NFL Draft. He recorded the archetypal sack of his nonrecreational vocation successful a season-opening crippled against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Cowboys manager says precocious NFL subordinate Marshawn Kneeland’s woman is pregnant, squad launches memorial fund