(Content warning: This story contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide and needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.)

The Dallas Cowboys held on Monday their first team meeting since the Marshawn Kneeland tragedy, led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer and independent team psychologist Heather Tedwell.

This was the first group gathering for the entire team since Kneeland’s passing last week. Cowboys veteran defensive end Solomon Thomas praised Schottenheimer and the coaching staff for their support through this trying time. 

"Extremely proud of coach for how he conducted today, just bringing therapists in the building, bringing people who we needed in the building and just letting us be our true emotions," Thomas said. "Giving us a safe place to let everyone know what's going on inside."

"We needed a day just to be human and to cry and to let everyone know how we felt."

Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Thomas has lost someone close to suicide. In 2018, Thomas’ sister Ella also died due to suicide. 

Thomas also held an event on Monday through his foundation, "The Defensive Line," a non-profit social services organization that helps individuals, families and seniors navigate through crisis situations. He was joined at the event by Cowboys teammates Osa Odighizuwa, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Perrion Winfrey, James Houston, Payton Turner, Jay Toia, Earnest Brown, Dayo Odeleye and Isaiah Land.

"I think the bye week, being away from each other has been hard," Thomas explained. "So I think coming into the building together meant a lot and then also having this and the guys, I even told them, 'Hey, I understand if you don't want to come,' and all of them wanted to come."

Everyone around the league felt this loss and former Cowboys teammate Micah Parsons even gave his own tribute to Kneeland before Green Bay's Week 10 Monday Night Football matchup against Philadelphia. 

Kneeland was in his second NFL season after being selected in the second round (56th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. In 18 career games, Kneeland posted 26 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 4 QB hits, 1 sack and 1 pass defended.