Cowboys owner Jerry Jones speaks of grief over death of ‘unique’ Marshawn Kneeland at 24 | Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken out about his grief following the death of Dallas defensive end Marshawn Kneeland last week.

Kneeland, who was in his second year with the Cowboys, was 24 at the time of his death.

“He was very unique in his zest for life, and he was very unique in his passion for the game,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Tuesday. “Of course, the saddest thing for someone like me is the fact that he’s only 24. We always think that we’re going to miss him and that the people around him are going to miss him. He was just getting started.”

Police said Kneeland took his own life, and Jones said he hoped the tragedy would help raise awareness about mental health.

“His death brings such national awareness that it takes some of that light when we think about how we move forward,” Jones said.

Dallas hasn’t played since Kneeland died due to his bye week. They will return to action next Monday against the Las Vegas Raiders. Cowboys players will wear t-shirts and stickers on their helmets in tribute to Kneeland.

“From a team standpoint and getting back to work, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll do it in remembrance of what he represents,” Jones said.

Jones added: “I think we all have boundless feelings about the people we love, the people we work with, and it’s just the moment where you recognize that there are no answers. “It makes you want to live life to the fullest. It makes you want to seek the best that we have in each other. And in a way, it makes sense of this time in terms of what it can mean in helping those who are here on Earth right now.

Kneeland played in 11 games during his rookie season, but took on a larger role in 2025. He scored his first career touchdown in his final game for the Cowboys after recovering a blocked punt in the end zone.