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Former Cowboys coach Mike Zimmer has revealed his heartbreaking final message to Marshawn Kneeland amid the Dallas player's death by suicide.
Kneeland, 24, was discovered dead after fleeing Texas State troopers at around 10:30pm local time on Wednesday. The Texas Department of Public Safety later released a statement saying Kneeland had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
And following the defensive end's death, Zimmer - who worked as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator last year - shed some light on his last conversation with Kneeland.
'He was a great person, eager to learn .. wanted to be great. He didn't take any crap from anyone on the field. He studied hard-loved playing the game. Tough,' Zimmer told NFL Network's Jane Slater.
'My last conversation with him was keep being you you're going to have a great career.'
According to a statement shared by the DPS, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to stop Kneeland for a traffic violation on the Dallas North Tollway.
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide at the age of 24
He was remembered as a 'great person' by former Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer
The 24-year-old football player is pictured with his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera
However, he allegedly refused to pull over, sparking a subsequent car chase that resulted in the pursuing authorities losing sight of Kneeland's vehicle.
His vehicle was later discovered abandoned after it had crashed on Dallas Parkway, with Kneeland being found deceased soon after.
Zimmer, a veteran NFL coach and former head coach of the Vikings, was far from the only person affiliated with the Cowboys to express their condolences following Kneeland's death.
Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson took to Instagram stories and wrote: 'Love you brother' while sharing a picture of Kneeland.
Meanwhile, wide receiver KaVontae Turpin shared the same image of Kneeland and wrote: 'Love you kid' with a heart emoji at the end.
Fellow teammates Marist Liufau, Kenneth Murray, Ryan Flournoy and Damone Clark, as well, all took to Instagram to share poignant messages for Kneeland.
In a tragic 911 audio recording obtained by TMZ, Kneeland's girlfriend told police that he would 'end it all' shortly after cops had performed a wellness check at his residence the night of his death.
'We're talking to the girlfriend, she's trying to call the agent, so we're trying to get her to call him first but she's saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness,' cops said on the recording.
Kneeland scored his first NFL touchdown on Monday, just two days before his death
Kneeland wore a small urn containing his mother's ashes on a necklace after he was drafted
The dispatch also stated that the NFL had contacted the Plano Police Department saying that the family of one of its players was concerned for his welfare. 'The subject is texting his family goodbye,' the operator said.
Kneeland, a second-round pick last year, was remembered as a 'devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend' by his family.
'We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief,' they said. 'As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field - as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend.
'He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.
'We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, fans, and the community. During this difficult time, we ask for privacy as we come together as a family to honor and remember Marshawn's life and legacy.'
His agent, Jonathan Perzley, also confirmed the 'tremendous loss, while the Cowboys said he was a 'beloved teammate and member of our organization' in a statement shared on Thursday morning.
The NFL also paid tribute to the young football star, saying: 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys' Marshawn Kneeland. Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.'
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or at http://988lifeline.org.
