The Dallas Cowboys established a memorial fund to benefit the unborn child of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who died by an apparent suicide last week, the team announced on Wednesday.
Visibly shaken, coach Brian Schottenheimer disclosed that Kneeland's girlfriend Catalina Mancera is pregnant and the team is seeking to make sure the mother and child are forever financially secure.
"We've started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, where we can all give and support Catalina," Schottenheimer told reporters on Wednesday. "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 Cowboys last played a week ago Monday, in a game where the second-year player Kneeland, 24, scored his first NFL touchdown.
But a little more than 48 hours after that career high point, police were trying to pull over Kneeland for an alleged traffic violation when he sped away, officials said.
During the search for Kneeland, police in Plano were asked to do a welfare check on the player, who had sent troubling goodbye text messages to friends, authorities said.
The player was found dead in the early-morning hours of Nov. 6 with a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he had evaded authorities, crashed a car and fled on foot, police said.
The team's first game since Kneeland's death is set for Monday night against the host Las Vegas Raiders.
"He had the most playful spirit of any young man I've been around. His smile could take you to your knees," Schottenheimer said.
"And in terms of him as an athlete, no one had a better motor than him. So my heart is heavy. Our team's heart is heavy. We don't move on, but we do move forward."
The coach said he's not sure how each player will perform with Kneeland's death weighing on their minds.
The Cowboys are 3-5-1 and sitting outside of the NFC playoff picture.
"Some guys, getting out on the grass is going to be the best thing the world," Schottenheimer said. "For some guys, getting out on the grass is going to be painful, and that's OK and we're going to give each other grace and time. But I do promise you this: These guys will be ready to play against the Raiders and we will honor Marshawn with how we play, not just against the Raiders, but for the rest of this season."
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or go to 988lifeline.org, to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
