Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Kneeland had early stage CTE at time of death
- On Tuesday, Boston University's CTE Center announced that former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was posthumously diagnosed with Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy; Kneeland died by suicide in November 2025 at age 24 during his second NFL season.
- Just 3 days before his death, Kneeland scored his first career touchdown in a Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas police found his body in early morning hours of November 6, 2025, after he evaded officers during a traffic pursuit, crashed his car and fled on foot.
- Records obtained by ESPN revealed mental health concerns dating back to 2020 when Kneeland was at Western Michigan. The Collin County Medical Examiner's Office determined he died by suicide, and Kneeland had started playing tackle football at age 7.
- Ann McKee, director of Boston University CTE Center, stated "We have found this progressive brain disease in nearly half of the athletes we've studied who have died before the age of 30." Kneeland's family said the diagnosis provides "important context" about struggles he may have faced, emphasizing compassion for the person he was.
- A 2023 study of about 150 contact sports athletes who died before age 30 found more than 40% had early-stage CTE, while a 2018 study identified the disease in 87 deceased NFL players including Hall of Famer Junior Seau. Dr. Chris Nowinski, Concussion & CTE Foundation CEO, noted Kneeland "played in the modern era of concussion protocols and better helmets, and yet he still developed CTE.
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123 Articles
Tragic Loss of NFL Player Unveils Health Concerns
Marshawn Kneeland, a young defensive end with the Dallas Cowboys, was found to have stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his untimely passing. His story raises significant awareness about brain health in sports. The post Tragic Loss of NFL Player Unveils Health Concerns appeared first on News Addicts.
NFL Player's Diagnosis Revealed After His Tragic Death At 24
Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, was posthumously diagnosed with stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following his death by suicide in November 2025. The diagnosis was announced on Tuesday, July 7, by his family through the Concussion & CTE Foundation after researchers at the Boston University CTE Center examined his donated brain tissue. Kneeland, who was 24 years old at the time of his death, had been selec…
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had early stage CTE at time of death
Kneeland had a brain abnormality linked to repeated head trauma when he died by suicide after a high-speed chase with police in November 2025. The findings of a postmortem analysis of Kneeland's brain tissue were released Tuesday by his family through the Concussion & CTE Foundation.
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