Sport3 min(s) read
Published 11:30 16 Jun 2026 GMT
Marshawn Kneeland's girlfriend has confirmed the birth of the late Dallas Cowboys stars baby, seven months after his tragic death.
As previously reported, the 24-year-old died on November 6, 2025, having taken his own life after refusing to stop for police after a traffic violation.
Shortly after news of Kneeland's death was confirmed, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed that the late athlete was set to become a father.
He revealed at the time that the club had set up a memorial fund to support Kneeland;s partner, Catalina Mancera and the unborn baby.
He said: "She's pregnant and so we want to make sure she is taken care of and the baby is taken care of for the rest of their lives. It's very important to our guys and to us.
"The organisation have been amazing, we've started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund where we can all give and support Catalina."
Now, Mancera has revealed that she has given birth to a baby boy which she has named Makhai.
Sharing photos of the newborn, along with his footprints and a blanket bearing his name, Mancera wrote: "my favorite gift from you. June 11th, 2026."
She also included a sweet video of her showing Kneeland the positive pregnancy test, and his smile as he looked forward to becoming a father.
Last November, the Cowboys confirmed Kneeland's death, saying in a statement at the time: "It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning.
"Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family."
His death came just 48 hours after he had a big showing during the Cowboys' Monday Night Football game against the Arizona Cardinals, where he recovered a blocked punt in the second quarter and scored a touchdown, putting the Cowboys on the scoreboard.
Kneeland tragically died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police pursuit for a traffic violation in Frisco, Texas.
According to audio obtained by CBS News Texas from the Plano Police Department’s dispatch, a welfare concern was raised after Kneeland sent a goodbye message to a group of friends via text late Wednesday night.
The dispatcher explained: "We’re getting a call from a friend of the resident, they just received a text from him, a group text, from him saying goodbye.
"They are concerned for his welfare."
Police audio shared after the chase showed a dispatcher saying: "We're talking to the girlfriend… she's saying he's armed and has a history of mental illness and her quote was 'he will end it all'."
Mancera and Kneeland had first met when he was at Western Michigan University and had been together ever since.
Kneeland had lost his own mother, Wendy, a year earlier, when the 45-year-old died from an accidental drug overdose at her home in Buckeye, Arizona, per the Daily Mail.
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