Catalina Mancera, 22, appeared in public for the first time since the shocking death of her boyfriend, Dallas Cowboys rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, leaving their Plano, Texas apartment building on Monday.
Dressed in an oversized hoodie and leaning on the support of Kneeland’s sister Yahmya, Mancera showed a brave face while grappling with raw, overwhelming grief.
“I’m grieving hard right now. It will be a long time before I’ll feel ready to talk at any length,” she told the Daily Mail, refusing to speculate on what led to the tragedy.
She added, “We’re still in the early stages of everything.
We are working on the funeral arrangements. I don’t know where it’s going to be yet.”
The Fateful Night
The heartbreaking chain of events began after Kneeland, 24, refused to pull over for a traffic violation in Frisco, Texas.
Catalina herself called police, warning that he was armed and could harm himself.
In the harrowing police audio, a dispatcher notes her plea: “He will end it all.”
Kneeland had celebrated a major milestone earlier that day, scoring his first NFL touchdown from a blocked punt against the Arizona Cardinals.
Despite the public triumph, the night ended tragically. He crashed his car in Plano, fled on foot, and was later found dead in a port-a-potty in the early hours of November 6.
A Love Story That Began in College
Kneeland and Mancera had been together since their college days at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
His cousin, Nicole Kneeland-Woods, described their bond as deep and enduring: “They supported each other through many stages of life.
Catalina is an important part of our family and she’s hurting deeply too.”
Mancera founded SZN Stitches, a sportswear line featuring custom game-day apparel with Kneeland’s name, number, and likeness, reflecting their shared passion for football and family pride.
Family and Friends Remember the Young Star
While police audio suggested Kneeland had a history of mental illness, relatives told the Daily Mail otherwise.
His mother Wendy’s death from an accidental overdose in February 2024 deeply affected him, as did the loss of his grandfather in 2023.
Beyond that grief, family members insist he showed no signs of depression or substance abuse.
Preston Kneeland, Marshawn’s uncle, emphasized, “Marshawn hated drugs, absolutely hated them.
He never smoked, he never touched alcohol and he disliked prescription medicine.
He would always try to find a natural way to treat things.”
Remembering Marshawn’s Character
Friends and teammates painted a picture of Kneeland as selfless, family-oriented, and deeply kind.
Former roommate Patrick Grange described him as “strictly about his family and about football,” noting his love of video games and Japanese anime.
One of his tattoos depicted Shigeo Kageyama, or Mob, from Mob Psycho 100, a character who struggles to manage overwhelming emotions while growing into himself — a poignant reflection of Kneeland’s inner life.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, whose own brother took his life in 2020, expressed his sorrow: “It’s been a very tough day.
It’s a tragic loss. I hurt. Heavy, heavy, heavy hurt for Marshawn. I hurt for his family.
I hurt for his girlfriend. I hurt for every single one of my teammates.”
A Family in Mourning
The Kneeland family is now left grappling with unimaginable loss.
While authorities continue their investigation, the young star’s legacy lives on in the hearts of loved ones.
Family, friends, and fans alike remember him for his generosity, humor, and the love he showed to everyone around him.
Catalina Mancera, still processing the shock, remains by his side in spirit, sharing in the grief that has gripped the Dallas Cowboys community and beyond.