The Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and George Pickens dedicated their team’s latest victory over the Philadelphia Eagles to their late teammate Marshawn Kneeland.
The Cowboys beat the Eagles 24-21 on home turf at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Sunday, November 23, with quarterback Prescott, 32, overtaking Tony Romo for the record of most career yards passed by a Cowboys player.
Speaking to Fox Sports’ Tom Rinaldi after the game, Prescott said, “One love. That was for Marshawn, right there. I know he helped us get that one. Defense played a hell of a game. Time and time again, they gave us opportunities. We couldn’t have done it without him. Yeah, this was fun. This was a great division game, great division win.”
Prescott again eulogized Kneeland, who died by suicide at age 24 on November 6 following a brief police chase, while speaking to other reporters after Sunday’s game.
“It’s about the brotherhood and trust me, once again, we’re always going to do it and do it for Marshawn,” he said. “He was felt tonight and I’m sure he was playing right there alongside with us.”
Wide receiver Pickens, 24, also remembered Kneeland in an interview with Tom Brady after being named the legendary quarterback’s player of the game.
“When Marshawn passed away, it really brought everyone on the team closer to brotherhood,” Pickens said of the emotions going into Sunday’s game. “This is a game that we play all the time and real life is still happening, so that component of life snuck into the team. Now, like I said, we’ve been executing on another level.”
The Cowboys honored Kneeland before Sunday’s game with a video package and a moment of silence. Additionally, the team placed a framed “No. 94 Kneeland” jersey on the bench in his memory and waved a flag with Kneeland’s jersey number on it after their victory.
Kneeland’s pregnant girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, was in attendance at the game.
The Cowboys announced Kneeland’s death in a November 6 statement.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the team said. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Frisco, Texas, police later confirmed Kneeland had died by suicide after a police pursuit on the night of November 5 when troopers attempted to pull him over for a traffic violation.
“After losing visual of the vehicle, troopers located it minutes later, crashed on southbound Dallas Parkway near Warren Parkway,” the police department said.
“Initial reports indicated that a male subject, later identified as 24-year-old Marshawn Kneeland of Plano, TX, fled the scene on foot. Officers established a perimeter and initiated a search of the area with the assistance of the FPD K-9 and Drone units,” the press release continued.
“During the course of the search, officers received information that Kneeland had expressed suicidal ideations. Kneeland was later located at 1:31a.m., deceased,” the department added.
The Cowboys’ defensive end scored his first career touchdown just days before his death on November 3 when the Dallas team took on the Arizona Cardinals.
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