Marshawn Kneeland received two welfare checks from WMU police: report

Western Michigan University police are reportedly investigating Marshawn Niland Before his untimely death, he was attacked twice while playing football at school.

The former Dallas Cowboys defensive end died by suicide on Nov. 6 after a brief police chase. He was 24 years old at the time.

According to reports obtained by the police ESPNStarting in 2020, Niland’s coaches and friends called police multiple times, asking officials to conduct welfare checks on the athlete.

In the first incident in September 2020, an unnamed friend of Kneeland’s called 911 to request a wellness check. Police later found Niland near railroad tracks in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

“Nyland told me that he sat across the tracks hoping that the train would run over him and end his life,” the outlet reported. “Nyland told me that life in general and the absence of playing football at Western Michigan University had left him emotionally depressed. He told me that he had been feeling this way for some time. When asked how long he had been feeling this way, he did not answer. Nyland stated that he has not been seeing a therapist or taking any medication to treat his mental health crisis.”

Niland did not need medical help at the time, but deputies took him to a local hospital, the report said.

The second incident reportedly occurred in June 2023, less than a year after Niland was drafted into the NFL by the Cowboys.

west michigan coach Lance Taylor Then there’s the defensive coordinator. Lou Esposito Nyland called police out of concern after recently separating from his girlfriend. The report also expressed concerns that Niland was “mentally unfit to possess a firearm.”

“After speaking with Niland, he voluntarily surrendered his firearm to WMUPD for safekeeping until he received permission from a counselor,” the officer wrote.

Niland recovered the gun from police after receiving a letter from a social worker at Syndicus Health Center in West Michigan. Social workers said Niland was determined not to pose a risk to himself or others.

Just hours before Neyland died on Nov. 6, the Cowboys’ director of safety, Cable Johnsonalso called police to request a welfare check.

Johnson told authorities that Niland had sent farewell texts to friends and family and said he “couldn’t go to jail or jail.”

At a press conference on November 12, the Cowboys head coach stated Brian Schottenheimerannounced the establishment of the Marshawn Neyland Memorial Fund and revealed that Neyland’s girlfriend, Catalinapregnant.

Related: Cowboys star lays flowers at Marshawn Neyland’s locker after his death

Several of Marshawn Kneeland’s teammates on the Dallas Cowboys are mourning his sudden death at the age of 24. Cornerback Josh Butler wrote, “Love you bro,” via his Instagram Stories on Friday, Nov. 8, and shared a photo of Neyland’s locker room in a “Love Me” post on JMSN. In the photo, four different bouquets were left in the room. […]

“I want to take a moment to express my condolences to Marshawn’s family, his girlfriend Katarina,” Schottenheimer said. “Last night we had the opportunity to celebrate Marshawn’s life and tell some stories. Share, laugh, cry. Marshawn loved the word ‘a love.’ So we talked a lot about love while grieving. I had the opportunity to share some of the things I will miss most about Marshawn.”

He continued: “My heart is heavy, my team’s heart is heavy. We are not moving on, but we are moving on.”

On Monday, Nov. 17, in the team’s first game back since Neyland’s death, the players and coaching staff wore special T-shirts to honor him before the game. The team will also wear a helmet decal with his number for the remainder of the season.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t shed a tear the first time I put this jersey on, as you can imagine,” Schottenheimer said. “But more than anything, I knew Marshawn looked down on us and we wanted to make him proud, and I think we did that.”

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