Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive finish for the Dallas Cowboys, was posthumously recognized with stage 1 persistent traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following his dying by suicide in November 2025.
The analysis was introduced on Tuesday, July 7, by his household by means of the Concussion & CTE Basis after researchers on the Boston College CTE Heart examined his donated mind tissue.
Kneeland, who was 24 years previous on the time of his dying, had been chosen by the Cowboys within the second spherical (56th total) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan College. He started taking part in deal with soccer at age 7 and appeared in 18 NFL video games over his first 1.5 skilled seasons.
Kneeland died on November 6, 2025, from an obvious self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident adopted a police pursuit that started late on November 5 within the Dallas space. Texas Division of Public Security troopers tried to cease his car for a visitors violation involving excessive speeds exceeding 145 mph and unsafe lane adjustments on the Dallas North Tollway. The pursuit continued into Frisco, the place the car crashed.
Kneeland fled on foot, and authorities, together with Frisco police, later positioned him deceased. Police had obtained info through the pursuit that Kneeland had beforehand expressed suicidal ideas. Two days previous to his dying, he had performed 17 snaps in a Cowboys recreation in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.
Kneeland’s household launched the outcomes of the autopsy mind tissue evaluation carried out by the Boston College CTE Heart. The evaluation decided he had stage 1 CTE, the bottom stage on a diagnostic scale of 1 to 4. Stage 1 represents the earliest and mildest type of the situation
“Sadly, I used to be not shocked to search out CTE within the mind of Mr. Kneeland, as a result of we’ve discovered this progressive mind illness in practically half of the athletes we’ve studied who’ve died earlier than the age of 30,” Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston College CTE Heart and chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System, instructed Pro Football Focus.
“Due to the generosity of our mind donor households, we now higher perceive the earliest phases of CTE, and it’s bringing us nearer than ever to diagnosing it throughout life. My workforce and I are absolutely devoted to discovering efficient remedies and a remedy for CTE,” she added.
Kneeland’s household additionally issued a press release following the analysis. “Whereas this analysis doesn’t change the tragedy of his passing, it gives necessary context about a number of the struggles he could have been going through. We share this info to assist folks perceive what NFL and different excessive contact sport athletes could be combating,” the household said.
“Elevating consciousness is necessary to us. We proceed to recollect Marshawn with compassion for the individual he was, quite than defining him by the ultimate moments of his life. One Love,” they added. The household requested privateness and indicated they might not take part in interviews.
Continual traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative illness linked to repeated head impacts, akin to these skilled in touch sports activities together with soccer. It’s characterised by the irregular accumulation of tau protein within the mind, which results in the dying of nerve cells and progressive mind atrophy over time, based on the Concussion & CTE Foundation.
CTE can solely be definitively recognized after dying by means of neuropathological examination of mind tissue, as there’s at the moment no dependable methodology for analysis throughout life.
Signs related to CTE, which can seem years or a long time after publicity to move impacts, can embody cognitive impairment (akin to reminiscence loss and government dysfunction), temper and behavioral adjustments (together with melancholy, irritability, impulsivity, and aggression), and motor signs in later phases. Analysis signifies a powerful affiliation between repetitive head trauma and CTE growth.
