Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, a former college standout in his second season with the NFL, has died. He was 24.

The former Western Michigan player, who was originally from Grand Rapids, died overnight, his agent Jonathan Perzley, confirmed on Instagram Thursday.

“I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys,” he wrote. “Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”

Kneeland, the Cowboys’ second-round pick during the 2024 draft, recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his first career touchdown during the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday — his final game.

“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said in a 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.”

The National Football League also confirmed Kneeland’s death, writing on X, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland. Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates.”

His cause of death, or any other details, were not immediately known.

Throughout his two seasons with the NFL, Kneeland played in 18 games with four starts, and had 26 tackles and one sack. His first season in 2024 was off to a promising start before he was sidelined for several games due to a knee injury.

As Kneeland was preparing for the NFL draft, his mother, Wendy, suddenly died.

“It was definitely tough,” Kneeland told the Dallas Morning News when he was drafted. “I just managed it. She helped me a lot in my younger years getting into football. I always had the dream. I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL’ and I made it.”

“It’s a hard situation just knowing she got to see me potentially going to the NFL and going through [the process]. She’s still with me. I got this urn of her ashes I carry with me everywhere. I still feel like she’s there watching over me,” he added.

Kneeland wore his mother’s ashes in a necklace after he was drafted, according to the report.

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