Marshawn Kneeland had stage 1 CTE
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Marshawn Kneeland, a 24-year-old Cowboys defensive lineman, died by suicide in November 2025 and was posthumously diagnosed with stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) by Boston University researchers.
- Stage 1 CTE is the earliest and mildest form of the disease, which is caused by repeated head impacts rather than just concussions, and can currently only be diagnosed through brain tissue analysis after death.
- Experts emphasize that modern concussion protocols and improved helmets have not eliminated the risk of CTE, highlighting the need for prevention strategies that reduce head impacts at all levels of contact sports.
- Kneeland’s family and girlfriend have shared the diagnosis to raise awareness about the potential long-term brain health struggles faced by athletes in football and other high-contact sports.
- CTE risk extends beyond football to sports like soccer, hockey, rugby, boxing, and basketball, where repeated blows to the head are common, underscoring the importance of understanding the full spectrum of risks associated with participation.
