Bills Quarterback Collapses After Learning His College Friend, Cowboys Defensive End Marshawn Kneeland, Dies at 24

November 7, 2025 – Buffalo, New York

The Buffalo Bills’ training facility turned into a scene of heartbreak on Friday when DeeJay Dallas, the team’s young quarterback, collapsed in the locker room after learning that his close college friend, Marshawn Kneeland, defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, had passed away at the age of 24.

According to sources within the Bills organization, Dallas and Kneeland had been inseparable during their years together at Western Michigan University, where they both chased their dream of making it to the NFL. The two were often seen training side-by-side, motivating each other through the ups and downs of college football. Teammates described them as “brothers on and off the field.”

A Bills teammate recalled:

“DeeJay had just gotten the call. He sat down on the floor, silent. No one dared to say anything — we all knew what that moment meant to him.”

The Frisco Police Department later confirmed that Marshawn Kneeland was found deceased early Thursday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators revealed that Kneeland had sent a final message to his family, apologizing and saying goodbye.

After being evaluated by team doctors, DeeJay Dallas was excused from team activities to recover emotionally. In a brief statement to reporters, he said with tears in his eyes:

“He was the reason I kept believing I could make it to the NFL. I can’t accept that someone who stood beside me on the field is gone forever.”

A Friendship Beyond Jerseys

Though they now represented rival teams — the Cowboys and the Bills — their friendship transcended competition and colors. Both men embodied resilience, humility, and the relentless pursuit of greatness that defines the NFL spirit.

Stars across the league, including Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, and Josh Allen, took to social media to share their condolences, writing messages like, “Rest in peace, Marshawn. You’ll always be one of us.”