Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Kneeland had early stage CTE at time of death
- On Tuesday, Boston University's CTE Center announced that former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was posthumously diagnosed with Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy; Kneeland died by suicide in November 2025 at age 24 during his second NFL season.
- Just 3 days before his death, Kneeland scored his first career touchdown in a Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas police found his body in early morning hours of November 6, 2025, after he evaded officers during a traffic pursuit, crashed his car and fled on foot.
- Records obtained by ESPN revealed mental health concerns dating back to 2020 when Kneeland was at Western Michigan. The Collin County Medical Examiner's Office determined he died by suicide, and Kneeland had started playing tackle football at age 7.
- Ann McKee, director of Boston University CTE Center, stated "We have found this progressive brain disease in nearly half of the athletes we've studied who have died before the age of 30." Kneeland's family said the diagnosis provides "important context" about struggles he may have faced, emphasizing compassion for the person he was.
- A 2023 study of about 150 contact sports athletes who died before age 30 found more than 40% had early-stage CTE, while a 2018 study identified the disease in 87 deceased NFL players including Hall of Famer Junior Seau. Dr. Chris Nowinski, Concussion & CTE Foundation CEO, noted Kneeland "played in the modern era of concussion protocols and better helmets, and yet he still developed CTE.
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Koco News5
Family says former Dallas Cowboy Marshawn Kneeland had early-stage CTE
The family of former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland says Boston University found early stage CTE in his brain after his death at 24.
Former Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland Diagnosed With Stage 1 CTE Posthumously
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has been posthumously diagnosed with Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to researchers at Boston University’s CTE Center and the Concussion & CTE Foundation. Kneeland, 24, died in November 2025 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after his family donated his brain for research. The diagnosis was announced on Tuesday. CTE is a progressive degenerative brain disease assoc…
WVII / Fox Bangor
Fox NewsFormer Cowboys defender Marshawn Kneeland, who died by suicide at 24, found to have early stage CTE
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who died by suicide in November 2025 after a high-speed chase with police, was diagnosed with Stage 1 of CTE.
WHNT 19 News
WOWKDallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had early stage CTE at time of death
CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in athletes in contact sports, combat veterans and others who experience repetitive blows to the head.
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