Inside Marshawn Kneeland’s family: How his late mother Wendy and his father Shawn shaped the late NFL star’s journey

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When the news broke that Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had passed away at just 24, it sent shockwaves through the football world. On November 6, 2025, Marshawn was found dead in Frisco, Texas.

Authorities say the sequence began with a vehicle pursuit after he evaded a traffic stop. He was later discovered in a wooded area near the crash site, and early reports suggest his death was from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The official cause and manner of death remain under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office.But beyond the stats and highlight reels was a son whose entire journey was shaped by love especially from his late mother, Wendy, and his father, Shawn.

The Michigan native often spoke about how his parents built the foundation for his NFL dream, one filled with faith, loss, and family devotion.Marshawn Kneeland was born on July 8, 2001, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to parents Wendy and Shawn Kneeland. He grew up surrounded by family - his siblings AJ, Shawn Michael, and Yahmya and attended Godwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan.

How his late mother Wendy Kneeland and his father Shawn Kneeland inspired his dream and stayed with him even after her passing

Marshawn Kneeland's parents

Credit : Marshawn Kneeland/Instagram; Ric Tapia/Getty

Wendy Kneeland was the beating heart of Marshawn’s story. She wasn’t just a supportive mom, she was his motivation.

In interviews, Marshawn recalled how she drove him to every training session and kept him grounded when college pressures hit. But in February 2024, tragedy struck: Wendy passed away, just as Marshawn was preparing for the NFL Combine.Her death was devastating, yet Marshawn turned his grief into strength. He carried some of her ashes in a small urn necklace, a symbol of her constant presence. “I always told her, ‘I’m going to the NFL,’ and I made it,” he once said proudly. For him, every snap, every tackle, and every touchdown was for Wendy.

Her belief in him didn’t end with her passing, it lived on through his success.While Wendy was his emotional compass, Marshawn’s father, Shawn, was his steady anchor. A more private figure, Shawn supported his son in quieter ways, helping him stay focused through high school position changes, college transitions, and life after his mother’s passing.Shawn rarely appeared in interviews, but his presence was constant.

After Wendy’s death, he became Marshawn’s biggest emotional support system, helping hold the family together through immense loss. Those who knew the Kneelands described Shawn as “the calm in the storm,” the kind of dad who let actions speak louder than words.Marshawn’s journey from Grand Rapids to the Dallas Cowboys was more than athletic achievement, it was a love story between a son and his parents. He fulfilled the promise he made to his mom and carried his father’s quiet lessons of resilience every step of the way.Even in his short career, Marshawn’s story touched hearts because it reflected something universal, the power of family. Behind the helmet and headlines was a young man shaped by the love of two parents who gave him everything, including the strength to chase greatness.