Security Call Reveals Concern Before Marshawn Kneeland’s Death
Newly obtained records show that a Dallas Cowboys security director called police for a welfare check on Marshawn Kneeland the night he died, citing alarming text messages and concerns for the player’s mental state.
- Glenn Catubig
- 4 min read
New details have emerged about the final hours of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, whose death last week was ruled an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Audio obtained through a public records request shows that the team’s director of security, Cable Johnson, contacted police late on Nov. 5 to request a welfare check after receiving troubling messages from the 23-year-old rookie.
Kneeland died early the following morning after fleeing police during a pursuit and running from the scene of a crash near the Cowboys’ headquarters in Frisco, Texas. Authorities have not disclosed what initiated the chase, leaving many aspects of the incident unaddressed as investigations continue.
The call from Johnson came approximately an hour after law enforcement began pursuing a vehicle later identified as Kneeland’s. Johnson told dispatchers that Kneeland had sent group text messages that read like farewells and referenced not wanting to go to prison or jail.
Police used drones and K-9 units to search for Kneeland following the crash. Despite efforts to locate him, officers discovered his body nearly two hours after the welfare call was placed, closing a chaotic and tragic sequence of events.
1. Security Director Reported Disturbing Messages
During his call to Plano police dispatch, Johnson expressed immediate concerns about Kneeland’s well-being. He explained that Kneeland had sent messages suggesting emotional distress and anxiety about legal consequences, noting the texts seemed like goodbyes. Johnson also conveyed uncertainty about Kneeland’s exact location, telling dispatchers he didn’t know whether the defensive end was still in the Dallas area. With the team on its bye week, Kneeland was “off work,” adding to the uncertainty about his whereabouts. He provided police with descriptions of Kneeland’s vehicle and said he was driving to the player’s apartment in an attempt to find him or contact his extended family. Johnson emphasized that the most recent text messages had been sent within the previous 20 minutes. The roughly five-and-a-half-minute call ended with Johnson urging dispatchers to check whether any nearby agencies might already be involved with Kneeland, given the concerning nature of the messages.
2. Timeline Reveals Chaotic Pursuit Near Cowboys Headquarters
The timeline compiled from police statements and surveillance footage shows that the pursuit involving Kneeland began at 10:39 p.m. on Nov. 5. Texas DPS requested assistance from Frisco police in tracking down a car that had fled during a traffic stop or attempted stop. Highway surveillance video later obtained by ESPN showed a vehicle matching Kneeland’s car speeding north on the Dallas North Tollway, sometimes trailed by a patrol vehicle. The footage captured the car exiting to an access road and executing a U-turn before traveling southbound. Just minutes later, at 10:40 p.m., the car crashed into a pickup truck roughly a block from The Star, the Cowboys’ headquarters. Texas DPS confirmed the collision and said Kneeland fled on foot immediately afterward. Police launched a large-scale search using drones and K-9 teams. At some point during this effort, officers received information indicating that Kneeland had made comments expressing suicidal intent, heightening the urgency of their efforts.
3. Search Ends Tragically as Questions Remain
Officers located Kneeland’s body at 1:31 a.m. on Nov. 6, ending a search that spanned several hours and involved multiple agencies. Authorities have said the death appeared to be self-inflicted but have not provided details beyond confirming the cause. The Dallas Cowboys acknowledged Johnson’s welfare check call through senior vice president of communications Tad Carper but declined to further comment. Johnson also did not respond to additional requests for clarification. The emotional strain described in the text messages, the pursuit, and the crash leave a number of unanswered questions regarding Kneeland’s actions and state of mind in the hours before his death. Police have not said what prompted the initial traffic stop or why Kneeland fled. As investigations continue, colleagues, fans, and the broader football community are left grappling with the loss of a young player whose final hours unfolded in confusion, distress, and tragedy.