Former Dallas Cowboy Kneeland had early stage CTE at time of death
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Marshawn Kneeland, former Dallas Cowboys defensive end who died by suicide in November 2025, was diagnosed posthumously with early stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma.
- The Boston University CTE Center found Kneeland, aged 24, was in stage one of four stages of CTE after analyzing his brain tissue following his death.
- Kneeland's family shared the diagnosis to raise awareness about the struggles athletes in high-contact sports like the NFL may face, emphasizing compassion for his life beyond his death.
- CTE, which can only be diagnosed after death, has been associated with violent mood swings, impulsive behavior, and depression, and is linked to deaths in football, hockey, and soccer.
- Despite modern concussion protocols and improved safety equipment, experts note that repeated head impacts—not just concussions—cause CTE, highlighting the need for prevention strategies to reduce head trauma in sports.
