SouthernWorldwide.com – A postmortem analysis of the brain tissue of former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who passed away by suicide in November 2025, has revealed that he had Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a progressive brain disease that has four stages, with Stage 4 representing the most severe form. The diagnosis was made by the Boston University CTE Center, and the findings were subsequently shared by Kneeland’s family through the Concussion & CTE Foundation.
Kneeland’s family, including his girlfriend Catalina Mancera, issued a statement regarding the diagnosis. They acknowledged that while the finding does not alter the sadness of his death, it offers crucial context for some of the challenges he may have been experiencing.
The family expressed their hope that sharing this information would help others understand the potential struggles faced by athletes in the NFL and other high-contact sports. They emphasized the importance of raising awareness and remembering Marshawn with compassion for the person he was, rather than solely defining him by the circumstances of his final moments.
Dr. Ann McKee, the director of the Boston University CTE Center and chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System, stated that the presence of CTE in Kneeland’s brain was not unexpected. She noted that the center has found CTE in nearly half of the athletes they have studied who died before the age of 30.
Dr. McKee highlighted the significant progress made in understanding the early stages of CTE, thanks to the generosity of brain donor families. This advancement is bringing researchers closer to the possibility of diagnosing the condition during a person’s lifetime. Her team is committed to developing effective treatments and ultimately finding a cure for CTE.
Dr. Chris Nowinski, the CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, pointed out that Kneeland developed CTE despite playing in an era with established concussion protocols and improved helmet technology. He expressed concern that there is no indication that the current generation of athletes faces a lower risk of CTE compared to previous ones.
Nowinski clarified that concussion protocols alone do not prevent CTE, as the disease is caused by repeated head impacts, not solely by concussions. He stressed the need for CTE prevention protocols and a significant reduction in the number and force of head impacts across all levels of the sport to mitigate the risk.
Marshawn Kneeland began his tackle football career at the age of 7. He went on to play college football at Western Michigan University before being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
During his 18 career games with the Cowboys, Kneeland recorded 26 tackles and one sack. His death occurred just days after he scored his first NFL touchdown by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone during a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
