Packers defensive lineman remembers former Cowboys teammate for his passion and grit
GREEN BAY – Micah Parsons had barely started his day when the Packers defensive lineman received a message no one ever wants to get from a former teammate on Thursday morning.
Marshawn Kneeland, the second-year defensive lineman with whom Parsons played in Dallas last season, had passed away at just 24 years old. Local authorities later revealed Kneeland had died from “an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
The news rattled Parsons to his core. Prior to being traded to Green Bay in August, Parsons shared a position room with Kneeland throughout the 2024 season.
In an instant, the kid Parsons fondly remembered for his passion for football, anime and video games was suddenly gone.
“I was extremely shocked. I was extremely hurt by the news,” Parsons said. “I just gotta pray he finds his peace and what he was looking for; how he felt in that moment, you just really don’t know.”
A second-round pick out of Western Michigan last year, Kneeland had 12 tackles and a sack in seven games for the Cowboys this season. Just days before his passing he recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals.
Talking with the media for more than 13 minutes on Friday, Parsons acknowledged the pressures that come with being a professional athlete and importance of seeking help.
It’s also a reminder of how you never really know what someone is going through under the helmet and away from the field. Parsons said he reached out to several former teammates and friends back home the past two days.
“We should all just use this time to stay prayed up … praying for your loved ones, praying that people find peace,” Parsons said. “Life’s just so short, so we should really just start appreciating a little bit more and just loving people right and being purposeful with our intent and how we treat people and how we accept people.”
The pressure to deliver manifests itself both internally and externally, especially in the age of social media when fans have open access to expressing their feelings in real time.
Harsh criticism directed at individual players can affect the person. In those instances, Parsons points out, it’s important to remember the human underneath the helmet.
“It’s a hard job, but it’s hard to be a person sometimes,” Parsons said. “Sometimes you wish things was different … because obviously it was Marshawn the person that we wish we could’ve been there for him, not Marshawn the uniform. I’m just trying to be there for people, more the person side than the football side.”
While praying Kneeland finds peace, Parsons extended his condolences to Kneeland’s family members, offering his assistance for anything they might need.
His heart also aches for his former Cowboys teammates, adding that he “can’t comprehend” that sorrow they must feel after such a tragic and sudden loss of their teammate and brother.
Because it’s not just the sweat and blood players pour onto the field together. It’s the countless hours they spend with one another week-in and week-out during a relentless six-to-eight-month grind.
“It’s challenging,” Parsons said. “This is a football-first, everything-else-later job. That’s what the fans expect you to be ready. Your coaches expect you to be ready. Even your teammates expect you to be ready. But in reality, to say that we’re emotionless and we don’t have feelings, you gotta put things to the side all the time – it’s just not realistic.”
As Parsons mourns the loss of his former teammate, he also recognizes a pivotal game on the horizon against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles this Monday night.
Coincidentally, Kneeland’s only NFL sack came earlier this year when he dropped Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for an 8-yard loss in the regular-season opener against Philadelphia.
Once that whistle blows, Parsons plans to play with that same type of energy and drive…because that’s what “9-4” would’ve wanted, referencing Kneeland’s uniform number.
“He always played with the intent and passion and played the right way,” Parsons said. “Every time I seen him step on the field, he gave it his all … even when he was hurt, even when he was dealing with things off the field, he never let it show on the field, so I have to do the same thing.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with difficult thoughts or emotions, you are not alone. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is available 24/7 for free, confidential support.
