Marshawn Kneeland’s NFL Coach Says ‘Of Course’ He Questions If He Missed Warning Signs Before Death

Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke to reporters on Wednesday, November 12 about how the team is coping with the shocking death of Marshawn Kneeland.

“We got a phone call and of course in the moment, we had reason to be concerned about Marshawn, so we moved forward with what we thought was the best plan of attack and a little while later we got word [of his death],” Schottenheimer — who got choked up several times — said of the events that transpired before the defensive end, 24, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Thursday, November 6.

The team, who were on a bye week, met in a “heartfelt” video call later that day, he revealed.

Asked if he felt he might have missed warning signs that Kneeland was struggling, Schottenheimer, 52, admitted that he did.

“Of course, those questions are natural. You try not to think about them, but when you’re having very open and authentic conversations with these guys, the pain is real. The questions are real,” he said, adding that experts “say a lot of times you’re never gonna know. But I’d be lying if I said I don’t wake up in the middle of the night or when I’m on the phone talking to one of these guys, [and] have those thoughts. You do.”

The coach said he has learned that when checking in with loved ones about mental health, instead of asking, “How are you doing?” — which most people tend to brush off with a quick, “good, good” — experts say to ask “What are you feeling?” instead. “So that was pretty powerful for me,” he said.

The team has long offered resources for players struggling with mental health, he said, and in the wake of Kneeland’s death, multiple grief counselors were also available to anyone who needed them.

And they also have each other. “I would change it if I could but this group of young men are very strong and they’re going to lean into one another and we’ll be OK,” he said.

“I’m hurting,” he continued, his voice breaking. “I’m hurting, and these guys have picked me up and I’ve picked them up and that’s what we’re going to continue to do because we love one another and that’s what a family does.”

“You just take it one day at a time,” Schottenheimer said. “And you don’t have to have all the answers. We don’t have all the answers. We probably won’t have all the answers.”

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