The football community was rocked in early November 2025 when 24-year-old defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, a rising star for the Dallas Cowboys, tragically died by an apparent suicide following a police chase.
The news left fans, teammates, and the organization in shock. However, amid the heartbreak came news that brought both sorrow and hope as Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, is pregnant with their first child.
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The Cowboys quickly moved to support Mancera and the unborn child. During a press conference on November 12, head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced the establishment of the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund.
“We want to make sure she’s taken care of and the baby is taken care of,” he stated. The fund aims to provide long-term financial support for Mancera and her child, ensuring that Kneeland’s legacy extends beyond his athletic achievements and into the life of his family.
Teammates, staff, and fans have rallied behind the initiative, pledging both emotional and financial support. The organization emphasized that this fund is more than a monetary gesture, as it’s a way of honoring Kneeland‘s life and the impact he had on those around him.
The gesture reflects a collective commitment to ensuring that his child grows up with the care and stability that Kneeland himself would have wanted.
Beyond the field and into the future
Kneeland‘s life was marked by resilience and personal challenges. He joined the NFL only months after the death of his mother, carrying her memory closely by wearing a necklace containing her ashes during games.
Catalina Mancera had been a steady source of support throughout his career, helping him navigate personal hardships while pursuing his dreams on the field.
Now, Kneeland‘s family has turned to his Instagram page to ask fans to support her and their unborn baby.
“This is an incredibly hard time for all of us, but even in our grief, we are reminded that love is still here. The love being shown to honor Marshawn’s life,” they wrote in a recent Instagram post.
“The love we all feel – the same love he gave so freely to everyone around him. The love he had for Catalina, his family, and the Cowboys organization.
“Marshawn was truly special, and the world was blessed to know him. Our hope is that his story is not remembered by his final moments, but by the light he brought and the awareness his name can bring to mental health. Right now, our focus is on surrounding Catalina and his child with comfort and support.”
