FRISCO, Texas — A very emotional Brian Schottenheimer addressed reporters Wednesday for the first time since the death of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. Tears welled up in his eyes several times throughout the 25-minute news conference.
“I want to offer my condolences to Marshawn’s family, Catalina, his girlfriend,” the Cowboys head coach said in an opening statement. “We had an opportunity last night to celebrate Marshawn’s life. We told some stories, share, laugh, cry. Marshawn loved the words: One Love. So, we talked a lot about love as we grieve. I got a chance to really share a couple of things that I’ll miss the most about Marshawn.
“Those top couple of things was that he had the most playful spirit of any young man I’ve been around. His smile could take you to your knees. In terms of him as an athlete, no one had a better motor than him. So my heart is heavy, our team’s heart is heavy. We don’t move on, but we do move forward.”
Schottenheimer also shared that they have started the “Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund” to provide direct support to Catalina, who is pregnant.
“We want to make sure she is taken care and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives,” Schottenheimer said. “It is very important to our guys and to us.”
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer fighting back tears while talking about Marshawn Kneeland: “I’m hurting. I’m hurt. These guys have picked me up, and I’ve picked them up. And that’s what we’re gonna continue to do because we love one another and that’s what a family does.” pic.twitter.com/8j7C6TERQw
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 12, 2025
It is still to be determined if there will be a funeral or memorial service for Kneeland, who died last Thursday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Cowboys held a memorial candlelight vigil Tuesday night inside the Ford Center. Several members of the organization spoke, including team owner Jerry Jones, Schottenheimer and defensive tackles Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas. The vigil lasted around 90 minutes and then was followed by a reception at the team’s training table for team members, family and friends.
The Cowboys confirmed an ESPN report that their head of security, Cable Johnson, called local police the night of Kneeland’s death, asking to conduct a welfare check on the 24-year-old. The Plano Police Department confirmed through a request that it responded to a call for a welfare concern at Kneeland’s address but did not make contact with anyone there. The team declined to share any information about what led to Johnson making that call.
The team returned to its practice facility Monday after last week’s bye. The Cowboys will be on the field for their first practice of the week on Thursday, preparing for their next game, Monday night in Las Vegas against the Raiders.
Schottenheimer was asked Wednesday how he will allow his team to grieve while also preparing for their job on the field.
“I think that’s where the strength and character of your football team comes in,” he responded. “At the end of the day, we have to work back to a regular routine. That’s what we’re going to do. We will move forward. The one benefit of playing on Monday night is we’ve been given a little bit more time to grieve. That grieving process is not over. There’s going to be things that affect us differently throughout the next couple weeks, but we understand our best way to honor Marshawn on the field is how we play. That’s something we get to control, and I think the guys are excited about that.”
Candles and flowers to honor Marshawn Kneeland outside The Star, the Dallas Cowboys team headquarters pic.twitter.com/0HfXnR2bW2
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 12, 2025