“Triggering day” - Dak Prescott speaks out after death of teammate Marshawn Kneeland
After losing his brother to suicide, Dak Prescott says Marshawn Kneeland’s death is “a triggering day” and urges others to reach out for help.
The Dallas Cowboys quarterback gave an emotional interview Thursday night following the death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who died by suicide after a police pursuit in a Dallas suburb early that morning.
Prescott mourns the loss of a teammate, relives his own heartbreak
Prescott, speaking at his alma mater Haughton High School in Louisiana during a field dedication ceremony, said the tragic news has weighed heavily on him and the team.
“It’s been a very tough day … it started early finding out the news,” Prescott told CBS New Texas. “Tragic loss. I hurt. Heavy, heavy heart today. I hurt for Marshawn. I hurt for his family. I hurt for his girlfriend Catalina. I hurt for every single one of my teammates.”
Dak Prescott speaks for the first time today
— FergSZN (@FergSZN) November 7, 2025
Per @CBSNewsTexas
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Prescott, 32, has long been open about his own struggles with grief and mental health. In 2020, he lost his older brother Jace to suicide, a tragedy that came years after their mother, Peggy, died of colon cancer in 2013. Jace had been his mother’s primary caregiver during her illness, and Prescott has since said his brother carried immense emotional weight.
The quarterback has since turned that pain into purpose. He founded the Faith Fight Finish Foundation, which promotes mental health awareness and provides resources for individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.
On Thursday, Prescott acknowledged how deeply Kneeland’s death struck him on a personal level.
“It’s okay to feel however you’re feeling,” he said. “I don’t always have the answers, and today is not a day where I felt like I had answers. It’s a triggering day for many reasons. Not a day that I have words other than I love you for friends and family and people who may be struggling.”
Prescott said his focus now is on supporting his teammates and honoring Kneeland’s memory by continuing to speak openly about mental health, a topic he believes too many athletes feel pressured to hide.
“You wish none of us had to go through this,” Prescott said. “You wish Marshawn didn’t have to go through what he went through. Just be thankful for every moment, and don’t take it for granted. Hug and love on those that you do.”
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