A resurfaced video from early in the 2024 season assumed a new poignancy in light of the news that one of the two Dallas Cowboys players in the clip, then-rookie defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wenedsday night at the age of 24, according to the Texas Department of Public Saftety, the state’s highway patrol.
In the one-minute, 24-second video, veteran defensive end Demarcus Lawrence â then 32 years old and in his 11th season with the Cowboys â offers advice on life in the NFL and how to adjust to the physical demands of playing in the league.
Though posted to the Cowboys’ own official social media account on the platform X (formerly Twitter) on September 18, 2024, the video appears to be an endorsement for the bedding brand Sleep Number. In the post, the Cowboys’ social media account sums up Lawrence’s advice for the second-round draft pick out of Western Michigan as “rest and recovery.”
The video can be viewed at this link. The Cowboys’ social media post goes in to describe the contents, saying, “D-Law sat down with rookie DE Marshawn Kneeland to offer advice on being in the league and how to get your body right for game day.”
Kneeland Appears Relaxed in Video
In the video, Kneeland appears relaxed and smiling. When Lawrence asks him how he is doing, Kneeland replies, “Shoot. I’m feeling good.”
At the time the video was posted, Kneeland had appeared in just two NFL games in the Cowboys’ regular season, on the field for 44 defensive snaps and three special teams snaps in his debut against the Cleveland Browns.
The following week, his snap count was reduced to just 10, plus seven on special teams, as the Cowboys took on the New Orleans Saints in their home opener at AT&T Stadium.
In the video, Lawrence then asks Kneeland, “How’s the body?”
“It’s doing decent. Holding up,” the 6-foot-3, 268-pound Kneeland replies.
Kneeland Living ‘Every Kid’s dream’
The video continues with Kneeland expressing his excitement at reaching the NFL level, and his gratitude for veteran players providing him with advice.
“You know, obviously since I was a kid, it’s every kid’s dream to get here,” Kneeland says in the video. “So, you know, finally being in this position and just having older guys to be able to guide me along the way â not just, you know, getting here and getting thrown in the fire. You know, seeing what happened.”
Lawrence tells Kneeland that in his 11th season he “definitely approached life, approached football, totally different from how I came in as a rookie.”
Kneelend Had Been Expected to Replace Lawrence
After Kneeland then describes purchasing a new bed, Lawrence tells him, “through my experience playing football, my best football came after the night of having the best rest.
“What is it called? REM when you go into that REM sleep,” Lawrence continues. “You know, when you’re able to actually see the plays you’re making on the field in your dream before you even touch the field.”
Lawrence closes the video telling Kneeland, “glad that you’re here. Let’s get it rolling.”
Lawrence signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent after the 2024 season. Kneeland had been widely anticipated to become Lawrence’s replacement at the defense end position in the Cowboys’ defense.
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