The Dallas Cowboys celebrated their late defensive end, Marshawn Kneeland, in a game loaded with emotion against the Las Vegas Raiders. The squad turned in a dominant showing, finishing with a convincing 33-16 win. Kneeland’s painful death on November 6 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a short police pursuit ignited outrage. The Cowboys held a candlelight vigil for Kneeland on Tuesday. This special moveable tribute was a way for teammates, coaches and his beloved home fan base to continue honoring his legacy.
In Kneeland’s memory, the team had a moment of silence before the kickoff. The news hit players and coaches hard with a visceral sense of loss. People felt Kneeland was looking down on them while they enjoyed the sport they loved. Even team quarterback Dak Prescott joined in, writing “One Love” on his wrist tape. This phrase was so evocative of Kneeland’s essence and deep reverence that it completely epitomized him.
In the bleachers, fans waved jerseys with Kneeland’s name on them and carried hand-painted banners with slogans like “Kneeland Strong.” The emotional tone highlighted the relationship the team had with the player who died. Defensive tackle Ryan Flournoy, one of Kneeland’s best friends, reassured everyone that the team had played for him all season and would continue to.
“All season long, we’re going to play for him. He was our teammate, our brother. Just keep going, keep playing. Just knowing he’s here with us. He’s gone, but he’s not gone. He’s still with us.” – Ryan Flournoy
Brian Schottenheimer, the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, paid tribute to Kneeland by wearing a commemorative shirt. As he described their late teammate, his voice quivered with emotion. He spoke warmly of the deep influence that Kneeland had on the squad and how they would seek to continue his spirit.
“This doesn’t put a cap on it. We’re going to continue to move forward, shining a light on Marshawn and carrying his legacy. And we need to play like this every week moving forward. He’ll always be with us.” – Dak Prescott
Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, shared a close bond with the team’s community, particularly with Schottenheimer’s wife. Perhaps no more than the support network that has openly surrounded Kneeland — players finding comfort in one another, their brothers, their teammates at this awful time.
Teammate Osa Odighizuwa put it best on the resilience needed in sports, saying, “That’s the game. He opened up about how powering through adversity—both on and off the court—are just alluded to in the sport. Saying goodbye to Kneeland brought a whole new hurt.
“You’ve got to play through pain. It’s part of the game. Not this, per se, but playing through pain is something that’s part of the game.” – Osa Odighizuwa
As the game concluded with a solid win for the Cowboys, players and coaches felt a renewed sense of purpose. Instead they took home victory, concentrated on honoring Kneeland by their win. They worked to ensure they lived up to the values he represented when he was a member of their team.
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