Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland’s untimely death on November 6, 2025, at just 24 years old, left an everlasting impact on the NFL. Following the tragic incident, Kneeland’s girlfriend has been expressing how much she misses him on social media. With six months having passed since his death, Catalina Mancera wrote an emotional message, which she shared on her Instagram story.
“6 months of missing you has already felt like forever… and I’m still trying to understand how I’m supposed to live a whole lifetime without you, my angel 
” Marshawn Kneeland’s Girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, wrote on her Instagram story.
She also shared a photo of him sitting quietly in a car, from the side, with a blue sky and a tree visible through the sunroof. It does not look like a staged photo. Instead, it feels like a simple, everyday moment, which makes the loss even more heartbreaking. The song playing in the background, “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith, adds to the emotion.
According to the police, Kneeland was found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 1:31 a.m. on November 6, 2025. Officers also said they learned he had expressed suicidal thoughts. Earlier that night, Mancera had reportedly told authorities she was worried he might hurt himself because he had been struggling with mental health issues.
After his death, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that she is pregnant with his child.
The two met while they were attending Western Michigan University. Even after he passed away, Mancera has continued sharing posts about how she misses him. In one Facebook post shared on November 15, she asked people to help her collect all the photos of Kneeland. In her last Instagram post, she shared a sonogram confirming that their baby will be born in June 2026.
As the grief over Marshawn Kneeland’s death continues, his girlfriend’s posts have deeply moved many people online, and she has gotten a lot of support from everyone in the NFL community. However, the Cowboys’ decision to give his No. 94 jersey to another player has led to criticism, making an already painful situation even harder for those close to him.
The Cowboys are criticized for giving away Marshawn Kneeland’s jersey number
The Dallas Cowboys also created a memorial fund for Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend and their unborn child. It showed that the team wanted to support his family in a real and meaningful way, not just honor him during games.
Following the passing of Kneeland, Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys owner, declared that all players would don the No. 94 sticker on their helmets in his memory throughout the remainder of the 2025 season.
For many people, it felt like a heartfelt goodbye and a tribute to a number that meant a lot to Kneeland. That is also why some people were upset when the team later gave No. 94 to undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kelvin Gilliam during the rookie minicamp.
Former Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas openly criticized the move on X.
“That 94 should have been off limits until my brother’s contract fully expired,” Thomas wrote. “Just don’t feel right.”
It is important to note that rookie minicamp numbers are often temporary, and not every undrafted player makes the active roster. The number could still return to rest later on. But for many fans and people close to Kneeland, the timing made the situation feel painful.
Before his death, Marshawn Kneeland had spoken proudly about wearing No. 94, a number once worn by Cowboys legends like DeMarcus Ware and Charles Haley.
“I just want to add on to the legacy of the number,” Kneeland had once said. “I wanna get the number retired. It’s been some greats that have had it.”
As the months pass, the pain surrounding Kneeland’s death still feels fresh for many people who knew him, played beside him, and supported him. For his loved ones, his memory is about much more than a jersey number.
