Sun Nov 09 21:20:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Micah Parsons Mourns Marshawn Kneeland, Reflects on Mental Health in the NFL

GREEN BAY, WI – Former Dallas Cowboys teammate Micah Parsons, now with the Green Bay Packers, expressed his grief and remembrance of Marshawn Kneeland on Friday, following Kneeland’s death on Thursday. Authorities reported Kneeland’s death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Kneeland, a second-round draft pick for the Cowboys in 2024, only played one season with Parsons. Parsons remembered Kneeland as a respectful and dedicated teammate, emphasizing his love for anime and video games. “Marshawn’s a guy who loved his anime, loved his video games like anybody else,” Parsons said. “To me, he always showed me nothing but respect from the moment he came into the locker room.” He also offered his support to Kneeland’s family, stating, “If there’s anything his family needs, I’ll be the first person to help or offer anything I can do to offer a person.”

During a scheduled press conference, Parsons also spoke candidly about the immense pressure faced by professional athletes and the importance of mental health. He acknowledged the harsh criticism athletes often endure from fans. “We live in a pressure job where you’re expected to deliver… and when you don’t, it’s easy to say, ‘Oh, man, it’s so sad,’ but a lot of people are hard on people. ‘You suck. You stink. We hope you die.'” Parsons stressed the need for greater empathy and awareness regarding the impact of such negativity.

Parsons further emphasized the importance of being there for one another and recognizing the human side of athletes. “Sometimes you wish things were different because… it was Marshawn the person that we wish we could’ve been there for him, not Marshawn the uniform,” Parsons said. “So I’m just trying to be there for people more the person side than the football side.”

Parsons received news of Kneeland’s death early Thursday morning, learning shortly after the cause of death. According to Frisco, Texas Police, Kneeland had evaded troopers during a pursuit that ended in a crash. After fleeing on foot, he was found approximately three hours later with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Parsons urged everyone to “stay prayed up,” reach out to loved ones, and appreciate the time they have together. He noted how deeply Kneeland’s death has affected his former teammates and highlighted the strong bond shared within the NFL. “Losing a teammate is like a brother… the NFL is like a brotherhood.”

Parsons will face the Philadelphia Eagles with the Packers on Sunday, and he is preparing for the challenge of focusing on the game while grieving the loss of his former teammate.

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