Researchers diagnose late Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland with CTE

Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has been posthumously diagnosed with Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, also known as CTE.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that can cause symptoms like confusion, memory loss, mood changes, impaired judgement and impulse control issues.

Kneeland died by suicide at the age of 24 in November and researchers at the Boston University CTE Center made the diagnosis after his family donated his brain for research.

On Nov. 6, Kneeland’s body was found by police officers after he fled law enforcement in a vehicle during a traffic stop and later fled on foot.

He was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft and appeared in 18 games for the franchise.

His family released a statement on the diagnosis Tuesday morning.

“While this diagnosis does not change the tragedy of his passing, it provides important context about some of the struggles he may have been facing,” their statement read. “We share this information to help people understand what NFL and other high contact sport athletes might be struggling with. Raising awareness is important to us.”

“We continue to remember Marshawn with compassion for the person he was, rather than defining him by the final moments of his life. One Love.”