Catalina Mancera, the girlfriend of deceased Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland, is pregnant, the Cowboys’ head coach announced at a news conference on Wednesday.
“We’re going to honor Marshawn, his family, a number of different ways,” Brian Schottenheimer told reporters a week after the 24-year-old defensive end’s death. “The organization has been amazing. We’ve started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, where we can all give and support Catalina. She’s pregnant, and so we want to make sure she’s taken care of and the baby’s taken care of for the rest of their lives.”
The Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund is “dedicated to preserving Marshawn’s legacy and extending his impact through direct support for his surviving partner and unborn heir,” according to its website.
“My sweet baby, words could never express how broken I feel, you’re my everything. I’ll love you forever my beautiful angel,” Mancera wrote Monday on Facebook, captioning a photo of her and Kneeland posing together.
Kneeland died of apparent suicide at age 24 on Nov. 6 after he reportedly fled a police traffic stop in his vehicle. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Frisco, Texas, police say they lost sight of his car, which he crashed before fleeing on foot.
The football player was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound about three hours after the car crash.
On Wednesday, Schottenheimer answered questions about Kneeland’s death, telling reporters that he had spoken to Mancera on Tuesday night.
“Marshawn loved the words, ‘One love,’ so we talked a lot about love as we grieve,” Schottenheimer said.
The coach praised Kneeland’s work ethic and discipline, and said that he would miss his “playful spirit” and smile that “could take you to your knees.”
“My heart is heavy,” Schottenheimer said. “Our team’s heart is heavy. We don’t move on, but we do move forward.”
Mancera reportedly told police that Kneeland had a history of mental illness. She said that Kneeland had a gun and that she was concerned he would kill himself, People reported.
People obtained audio of a police dispatcher saying, “We’re talking to the girlfriend. She’s trying to call his agent, but we’re trying to get her to call him first, but she’s saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness and her quote was, ‘He will end it all.’”
Schottenheimer said Wednesday that grief specialists were available to talk to Kneeland’s teammates. Moving forward, he will tell his players how much he loves them, the coach said.
“And I do. I love them,” Schottenheimer said. “I care about them. Probably never be the same, to be honest with you. I’m a people person anyways.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
