FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, 24, died Thursday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, according to law authorities.

The team put out a statement Thursday but did not mention a cause of death.

“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

The Cowboys have made counseling resources available to all players, coaches and staff. The players are on their bye week and are not scheduled to practice again until Monday.

According to Frisco (Texas) Police, the department responded to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety with locating a vehicle that evaded troopers during a pursuit that entered the city at approximately 10:39 p.m. CT Wednesday.

DPS troopers found Kneeland’s vehicle crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway. According to the report, Kneeland fled the scene on foot and officers searched the area with help from K-9 and drone units.

As authorities were looking for Kneeland, a dispatcher told officers that people who knew him had received a group text from Kneeland “saying goodbye. They’re concerned for his welfare,” according to recordings from Broadcastify, which archives public safety radio feeds.

Approximately three hours later, Kneeland was found with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Kneeland’s agent, Jonathan Perzley, described his death as “a pain I can hardly put into words.”

“I am shattered to confirm that my client and dearest friend Marshawn Kneeland passed away last night,” Perzley said in a statement. “I watched him fight his way from a hopeful kid at Western Michigan with a dream to being a respected professional for the Dallas Cowboys. Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.

“My heart aches for his family, his teammates and everyone who loved him, and I hope they feel the support of the entire football community during this unimaginable time. I ask that you please give his loved ones the privacy and compassion they need as they grieve this tremendous loss.”

The NFL issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened” by Kneeland’s death, adding the league has “offered support and counseling resources” to the Cowboys.

Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor said in a statement: “My heart is absolutely broken over the loss of Marshawn Kneeland. Marshawn was so much more than an incredible football player — he was a remarkable young man who meant so much to our program and to me personally. His leadership, energy, and smile were infectious, and he left a lasting impact on everyone in our program. Having coached him during my first season here, we developed a special bond that went far beyond football. His passion for life and his teammates were unmatched. Our entire Bronco Football family is devastated, and we send our deepest prayers to his family, teammates, and all who loved him. Marshawn will forever be a part of the Bronco brotherhood.”

Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round pick out of Western Michigan in 2024, No. 56 overall. In Monday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, he scored the Cowboys’ first touchdown, recovering a blocked punt in the end zones.

He missed two games this season with injury and was credited with 15 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss and 6 quarterback hurries. As a rookie, he missed six games with a knee injury and had 17 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback pressures, 1 pass breakup and 1 fumble recovery.

Greg Ellis coached Kneeland last year as an assistant on the Cowboys’ staff. He remained in contact with him and texted him before the season started.

“He epitomized what you look for in a football player,” Ellis said. “He played the game hard. He was eager to learn. You hear a lot of things about this generation, but that wasn’t Marshawn. He was still a, ‘Yes, sir. No, sir,’ kind of guy. He wanted extra help with things That was him. Extra stuff, study film.”

When the Cowboys selected Kneeland, his playing style was compared to that of Ellis, who was Dallas’ first-round pick in 1998 and had 77 sacks in 11 seasons with the team. “I wish I would’ve or could’ve done more to help him in other areas of his life,” Ellis said.

Kneeland set records for tackles, sacks and tackles for loss at Godwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan, before attending Western Michigan. In 38 collegiate games. He had 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 pass deflections. He was a second-team All-Mid-American Conference pick in 2023, finishing with 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in nine games.

The Cowboys have dealt with in-season tragedy in recent years. In 2012, linebacker Jerry Brown died in a car accident in which teammate Josh Brent was driving. In 2020, strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul died the day before a game after experiencing a medical emergency.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Auburn’s 10-3 loss to Kentucky Saturday was Hugh Freeze’s final game at the helm of the Tigers’ football program.

“Coach Freeze is a man of integrity, and we are appreciative of his investment in Auburn and his relentless work over the last three years in bolstering our roster,” Auburn athletic director John Cohen said in a statement Sunday.

Madi Freeze, the daughter of the former Auburn coach, revealed she was concerned about her father’s well-being in the months leading up to his dismissal.

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In a social media video, Madi said her father’s health declined in the months after an early-stage prostate cancer diagnosis. Freeze’s diagnosis was made public in February.

Due to early detection, doctors believe Freeze’s cancer “is very treatable and curable,” according to a statement from the school. At the time, the 56-year-old was given the go-ahead to continue his coaching duties during his treatment.

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“In some twisted way, there’s a relief factor for me personally because I’ve watched my dad’s health just deteriorate over this,” she said in a video shared on TikTok. “Other people can see it, I know y’all can see it, he’s not healthy.”

Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze talks with an official during the third quarter against the South Alabama Jaguars at Jordan-Hare Stadium Sept. 13, 2025. (John Reed/Imagn Images)

She added that Freeze is scheduled to undergo procedures. 

“I’m thankful there’s relief that my dad finally gets to have the surgeries that he needs, and they’re scheduled, and he’s going to get healthy.”

Madi attends Auburn. While she expressed admiration for the school, she also suggested her father was not fully appreciated during his coaching tenure.

“We loved Auburn, and the second we got here, everybody was very adamant that if you love Auburn, it will love you back,” she said. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for us…. We don’t wish bad upon them, but we do hope that they turn to the Lord and find Jesus.”

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze walks off the field after a loss to Kentucky Nov. 1, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Freeze departed Liberty after the 2022 season and joined Auburn. He coached the Tigers to a 6-7 record in his first season. Auburn won five games under Freeze in 2024.

Auburn fell to 4-5 on the year after the Week 10 defeat to the Wildcats.

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Freeze finished his two-plus seasons at Auburn with a 15-19 record.

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French biathlete Julia Simon has been handed a six-month competition ban by the French Ski Federation (FFS), but the 29-year-old will be able to compete in next year’s Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, the sports body said on Thursday.

Simon, who won the overall World Cup title in 2023 and holds 10 world championship gold medals, was also fined 30,000 euros ($34,986.00) by the FFS National Disciplinary Committee.

The decision follows her credit card fraud and theft conviction last month. Simon was sentenced to a three-month suspended prison term and fined 15,000 euros ($17,493.00).

The ban prohibits her from participating in competitions or training sessions organised or authorised by the FFS or the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

The FFS added it reserves the right to appeal the decision to the Federal Appeals Council within seven days of notification, a route available to both parties.