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A number of NFL stars have written emotional tributes to Marshawn Kneeland after his tragic death by suicide at the age of 24.
Kneeland was discovered dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a car chase with Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers at around 10:30pm local time on Wednesday.
The defensive lineman's death came just two days after he suited up for the Cowboys in their Monday Night Football matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Tributes for the 24-year-old swiftly poured in on social media, with a number of his Dallas teammates, past and present, posting emotional messages dedicated to Lynch.
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.
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has passed away suddenly at 24
A number of Kneeland's Dallas teammates have now paid tribute to the defensive lineman
Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson shared a picture of Kneeland and wrote: 'Love you brother'
Fellow teammates Marist Liufau, Kenneth Murray, Ryan Flournoy and Damone Clark all took to Instagram to share poignant messages for Kneeland.
Away from the Cowboys, there are a number of NFL stars who offered tributes to the defensive lineman.
Former Dallas star Micah Parsons wrote on Instagram: 'I'm sorry lil brother I hope you find peace' with a string of 'broken heart' emojis following afterwards.
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson wrote: 'A tragic loss. Praying for Marshawn's family, friends and teammates. Gone too soon'.
Meanwhile, the Kneeland family shared their own statement on Thursday which read: 'The Kneeland family can confirm the heartbreaking news of the passing of our beloved Marshawn Kneeland.
'We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief.
'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.
NFL stars Russell Wilson and Micah Parsons both shared heartfelt messages for Kneeland
Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin also wrote an emotional tribute to the 24-year-old
'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. The Kneeland Family'.
His 'shattered' agent, Jonathan Perzley, confirmed the 'tremendous loss' in an emotional statement on Thursday morning.
'It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,' a statement from the team read.
'Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.'
Troopers attempted to stop Kneeland for a traffic violation on the Dallas North Tollway. However, he reportedly refused to pull over, resulting in a pursuit which ended when the pursuing troopers lost sight of Kneeland's vehicle.
Kneeland's vehicle was later discovered abandoned after having been in a crash, prompting a search of the immediate area where the football player was found deceased.
The defensive lineman, who was drafted by Dallas in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, achieved a major milestone during the clash, scoring his first professional touchdown when he scooped up a blocked punt in the end zone during the second quarter.
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.'
The defensive lineman was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 draft
Kneeland's mother, Wendy (left), unexpectedly passed away in February 2024
The Cowboys are on their bye week and are not scheduled to return to training until Monday before their next game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 17.
Kneeland set records for tackles, sacks and tackles for loss at Godwin Heights High School in Wyoming, Michigan, before attending Western Michigan.
In 38 games throughout his collegiate career, Kneeland registered 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, three forced fumbles and three pass deflections.
He also earned a second-team All-Mid-American Conference nod in 2023 after he finished the year with 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in nine games.
