Cowboys Called for Welfare Check Before Player’s Death

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Marshawn Kneeland died last week at the age of 24, just days after scoring a touchdown for the team on Monday Night Football.

Authorities said that Kneeland appeared to die as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot, and new information shows that at least one team employee was aware of the escalating situation and tried to get Kneeland help.

ESPN reports that Cowboys director of security Cable Johnson called law enforcement to institute a welfare check for Kneeland.

Team Security Notified Law Enforcement

"He sent out some group texts that are concerning -- probably mental health -- but the group texts seemed to be saying goodbye -- made some statement about not able to go to prison or to jail," said Johnson in a message to authorities.

Police pursued Kneeland prior to finding his body, and the call for a welfare check came roughly an hour after that pursuit began. Authorities have not disclosed the initial reason for the pursuit, simply explaining that Kneeland attempted to evade officers both in a vehicle and on foot.

On the call to law enforcement, Johnson gave Kneeland's address in Plano, Texas as well as a description of his car. He noted that he was also trying to get in contact with Kneeland's extended family.

"The last context of the text that he sent said something to the fact that I can't go to prison or jail," the security director said on the call. "I'm sure you can do like a regional check to see if any other agency is dealing with him right now?"

Authorities found Kneeland's body at around 1:30 AM local time. They initially found his crashed vehicle, and sent K-9 and drone units to locate him. Hours later, authorities found him with a gunshot wound.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan that he was "devastated" by Kneeland's death. Jones said it was "just hard to believe the content that was on the other phone in the middle of the night when we all got the news."

Cowboys Will Honor Kneeland This Season

The owner says the team will honor Kneeland in its next game and throughout the rest of the season. They'll wear a special helmet decal in his memory, and the team will also warm up in commemorative T-shirts for their upcoming games.

"We all are having to share the sorrow, all are having to share the different ways or different things that come through your mind. It's not light that as a teammate, Marshawn touched everybody in many different ways," Jones said about the late linebacker.

"The very definition of team is we love each other, we rely on each other. That's the ethos of what a team is about."

The Cowboys will play with heavy hearts this weekend when they travel to Las Vegas to face the Raiders on Monday night - just weeks after the passing of their teammate.