Former Cowboys defender Marshawn Kneeland, who died by suicide at 24, found to have early stage CTE

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Former Dallas Cowboys antiaircraft extremity Marshawn Kneeland, who died by termination successful November 2025 aft a high-speed pursuit with police, was diagnosed with Stage 1 of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) successful a postmortem encephalon insubstantial analysis.

There are 4 stages of CTE, with Stage 4 showing the astir damage. The Boston University CTE Center diagnosed Kneeland’s brain, and his household released the results done the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

Kneeland’s family, including his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, released a statement.

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Dallas Cowboys antiaircraft extremity Marshawn Kneeland (94) walks disconnected the tract aft the crippled against the New Orleans Saints astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, connected Sept. 15, 2024. (Tim Heitman/Imagn Images)

"While this diagnosis does not alteration the calamity of his passing, it provides important discourse astir immoderate of the struggles helium whitethorn person been facing. We stock this accusation to assistance radical recognize what NFL and different precocious interaction athletics athletes mightiness beryllium struggling with," the household said successful a connection done the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

"Raising consciousness is important to us. We proceed to retrieve Marshawn with compassion for the idiosyncratic helium was, alternatively than defining him by the last moments of his life. One Love."

Dr. Ann McKee, the manager of the Boston University CTE Center and main of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System, said she was not amazed to find CTE successful Kneeland's brain.

"Unfortunately, I was not amazed to find CTE successful the encephalon of Mr. Kneeland, due to the fact that we person recovered this progressive encephalon illness successful astir fractional of the athletes we’ve studied who person died earlier the property of 30," McKee said successful a connection done the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

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Dallas Cowboys antiaircraft extremity Marshawn Kneeland (94) and antiaircraft extremity Sam Williams (54) observe aft returning a blocked punt for a touchdown during the crippled betwixt the Dallas Cowboys and the Arizona Cardinals astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, connected Nov. 3, 2025. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

"Thanks to the generosity of our encephalon donor families, we present amended recognize the earliest stages of CTE, and it is bringing america person than ever to diagnosing it during life. My squad and I are afloat dedicated to uncovering effectual treatments and a cure for CTE."

Dr. Chris Nowinski, the CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, noted that Kneeland inactive had CTE contempt playing successful an epoch with concussion protocols and amended helmets.

"Mr. Kneeland played successful the modern epoch of concussion protocols and amended helmets, and yet helium inactive developed CTE," Nowinski said.

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Dallas Cowboys antiaircraft tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) takes the tract with a emblem honoring precocious Dallas Cowboys antiaircraft extremity Marshawn Kneeland earlier the crippled against the New York Giants astatine MetLife Stadium successful East Rutherford, New Jersey, connected Jan. 4, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

"We person nary crushed to judge the existent procreation is astatine a little hazard of CTE than erstwhile generations. Concussion protocols bash not forestall CTE, due to the fact that CTE is caused by repeated caput impacts, not conscionable concussions. If we privation to trim CTE risk, we indispensable instrumentality CTE prevention protocols and aggressively trim the fig and spot of caput impacts astatine each level of the game."

Kneeland began playing tackle shot erstwhile helium was 7-years-old. He played astatine Western Michigan University earlier being selected successful the 2nd circular of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Cowboys.

In 18 vocation games with the Cowboys, Kneeland recorded 26 tackles and 1 sack. His decease came conscionable days aft helium recorded his archetypal NFL touchdown successful a crippled against the Arizona Cardinals by recovering a blocked punt successful the extremity zone.

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