VT. Will Howard (QB) shares about the sad passing of Marshawn Kneeland, a player for the Dallas Cowboys.

When the news broke that Marshawn Kneeland, defensive end of the Dallas Cowboys, had passed away at just 24 years old, shockwaves rippled through the football world. For many, it was a tragic headline.
But for Will Howard, quarterback and former teammate, it was personal.

“I was shocked to hear of his passing,” Howard said softly. “He and I were teammates in a number of leagues. Marshawn wasn’t just a player — he was a brother. The kind of person who brought out the best in everyone around him.”

To understand that grief, you have to understand who Marshawn Kneeland was.
He wasn’t the loudest guy in the room — but somehow, everyone gravitated toward him. His laughter carried across the locker room. His work ethic was contagious. His energy, steady and genuine, had the power to lift an entire team even in its darkest moments.

He was the guy who stayed late after practice to help rookies adjust. The one who gave his gloves to a kid waiting by the gate. The one who, no matter how exhausted he was, always found time to ask, “How are you holding up?”

Football may have been his stage, but kindness was his legacy.

For Will Howard, those memories now carry a bittersweet weight. He recalled long days during college tournaments, where he and Kneeland would sit on the sideline after grueling workouts, dreaming aloud about the NFL.
They both made it — but one of them was taken far too soon.

“We used to talk about what it meant to make it,” Howard said. “Not just playing at the next level, but making an impact. Marshawn did that. He made his mark, not just on the field, but on every person who ever met him.”

In the wake of Kneeland’s passing, tributes have flooded social media — from teammates, coaches, and fans across the nation. Photos of him smiling, joking, mentoring young players.
No scandals, no ego. Just a man who loved the game and loved people even more.

For Howard, the loss is a reminder that even heroes bleed — and that life, like football, can change in a single play.
But in remembering Marshawn Kneeland, there’s also gratitude: gratitude for the example he set, and for the brotherhood that football can create.

“Some players leave behind numbers,” Howard said. “Marshawn left behind heart.”

And perhaps that’s the truest measure of greatness — not in touchdowns or tackles, but in the way your spirit continues to play long after the clock runs out.

As the stadium lights dim and fans whisper his name, one truth remains unshakable:
Marshawn Kneeland may be gone, but his light — his heart, his laughter, his love for the game — will never fade.