/10. We Still Hear His Voice’: CeeDee Lamb Breaks Down as Cowboys Reveal Heartbreaking Tribute to Late Teammate Marshawn Kneeland
For CeeDee Lamb, the locker room doesn’t sound the same anymore. The rhythm of pregame jokes, the low hum of hip-hop beats, and the familiar clatter of shoulder pads — all of it feels offbeat now, missing one unmistakable voice.
“I still hear him,” Lamb said, eyes glistening as he paused to steady his breath. “Every morning, when I walk into that room, I can still hear Marshawn’s voice telling me to lock in, to stay hungry. It’s like… he never left.”
Marshawn Kneeland — the young, promising defensive end who’d become one of the emotional anchors of the Dallas Cowboys — is gone. And yet, as Lamb and the rest of the team made clear this week, his spirit hasn’t gone anywhere.
When the Cowboys step onto the turf at AT&T Stadium on November 18 to face the Las Vegas Raiders, every player will wear a black bracelet etched with the words “Kneeland in our hearts.” It’s a small symbol for a man whose presence was anything but small.
A Brother, Not Just a Teammate
Kneeland was the kind of player who made people believe. Not just with stats or sacks, but with presence — a rare mix of grit and kindness that defined him long before he ever wore the star.
Teammates recall how he’d stay late after practice, helping rookies perfect their footwork or running extra drills with whoever asked. “He wasn’t just about his own game,” linebacker Micah Parsons said. “He was about our game — the whole team. That’s who he was.”
Off the field, Kneeland’s laughter was contagious. He’d crack jokes during film study, find something to celebrate in every bad day, and remind everyone why they played in the first place. “You couldn’t be around him and not smile,” Lamb added. “He had this way of making everything feel lighter — even the pressure.”
His impact was so deep that, days after the shocking news of his passing, the team still hadn’t adjusted. The locker that once held his pads and cleats now stands untouched — a silent memorial wrapped in jerseys, photos, and handwritten notes from teammates.
“None of us have been able to move his things,” said head coach Mike McCarthy. “That’s his space. That’s Marshawn’s corner. It’s sacred now.”
The Shock That Shook Dallas
No one saw it coming. One week, Kneeland was on the field, smiling through sweat and shouting encouragements. The next, the Cowboys were receiving news that left them reeling.
The details surrounding Kneeland’s passing remain private out of respect for his family, but sources close to the team described it as “a devastating, unexpected loss.” What mattered most to his teammates, however, was how to carry on his legacy.
“Football stops,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “Games, standings, stats — none of it matters when you lose a brother. Marshawn was one of us. Every win from now on, it’s his too.”
In the days following his death, players gathered for private vigils — no cameras, no press, just brothers remembering one of their own. They shared stories, prayed, and played Kneeland’s favorite songs through the locker room speakers. The laughter that followed wasn’t just nostalgia; it was healing.
“We didn’t want it to be all sadness,” Parsons said. “Marshawn wouldn’t have wanted that. He’d want us laughing, talking trash, getting ready for Sunday.”
A Promise Etched in Steel and Sweat
When the Cowboys take on the Raiders, fans will notice something different. Beneath the blue and silver, black bands will gleam on every wrist — simple, sturdy bracelets engraved with “Kneeland in our hearts.”
It was Lamb’s idea. “I wanted something that would remind us, every single play, who we’re doing this for,” he explained. “Every time we look down, every time we get tired, we’ll see his name. And that’s enough to keep going.”
The bracelets aren’t just for players. Fans across Dallas have begun ordering identical versions, turning what began as a locker room tribute into a movement of remembrance.
One fan tweeted, “If the Cowboys play for Kneeland, we’ll cheer for him too.” The hashtag #PlayForKneeland quickly started trending, uniting fans, rivals, and even NFL legends in a shared moment of respect.
A Legacy Bigger Than the Game
In his final interview just weeks before his death, Kneeland was asked about what football meant to him. His answer, in hindsight, feels prophetic.
“It’s never just a game,” he said, smiling. “It’s family. It’s faith. It’s a fight — not just for yourself, but for everyone standing beside you.”
That’s the version of Marshawn Kneeland that the Cowboys will carry forward: not just the relentless pass rusher or the locker room comedian, but the soul of a team that refuses to break.
Coach McCarthy confirmed that the team plans to establish a scholarship fund in Kneeland’s name, aimed at supporting underprivileged youth who dream of playing football. “He always talked about giving back,” McCarthy said. “Now we get to make sure his dream lives on.”
