Marshawn Kneeland's Pregnant Girlfriend Catalina Mancera Shares Message to Baby After NFL Star's Death

Though parenting solo wasn't in her initial playbook, "I promise to love you with everything I have for me and for your dad," she summed up. "I can’t wait to meet you, to hold you, and to watch you grow. I love you already."

"We've started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund, where we can all give and support Catalina," he revealed at a Nov. 12 press conference. "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."

Because Kneeland is still very much a part of their squad.

"Our guys, it's very important to them and to us," Schottenheimer emphasized. "He's still part of the team."

As Mancera game plans for her future, look back at Kneeland's life.

Marshawn Kneeland's football career started long before his time at the NFL.

During his senior year of high school in Michigan, Marshawn achieved an impressive 110 tackles and eight sacks on defense as well as 20 receptions for 330 yards and five touchdowns on offense.

After graduating, Marshawn committed to Western Michigan University, where he achieved 149 tackles and 12.5 sacks across his four years.

During his time at the school, the athlete's work ethic helped him stand out, going to the team's facilities as often as he could to train and watch game footage.

As his coach David Denham put it, "That's when you started to see the gradual separation between him and some of the other guys."

Marshawn was the Dallas Cowboys' second-round pick in 2024, the team owner Jerry Jones telling him at the time, "Marshawn, we're gonna put a star on that helmet."

For the young athlete, he tried to soak up every moment. "It's a once in a lifetime experience for me," he said of draft night, "so I'm just excited to be here."

Marshawn's work ethic stuck with him as he transitioned into the NFL, preparing for his first season with the team.

As for how he was approaching the NFL, Marshawn just wanted to stick to his game plan.

"I'm going to be the same type of player I've always been," he said after being drafted. "Physical, fast, high-fitness, high-effort, high-motor. It's basically going to come down to making plays."

Throughout his almost two seasons on the Texas team, the 24-year-old amassed 26 tackles and one sack across 18 games, including four starts.

Just days before his death, Marshawn scored his first touchdown in the league.

As his agent Jonathan Perzley said of the player following his death, "Marshawn poured his heart into every snap, every practice, and every moment on the field. To lose someone with his talent, spirit, and goodness is a pain I can hardly put into words.”