Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (R) in action earlier this season against the Cincinnati Bengals

Washington (AFP) - Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has died at the age of 24, the NFL franchise said on Thursday.

Kneeland, in his second year with the Cowboys, scored the first NFL touchdown of his career in a 27-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday.

Frisco Police Department in Texas said Kneeland appeared to have taken his own life after he was involved in a vehicle pursuit and a multi-agency search on Wednesday night.

His vehicle was found crashed and he was thought to have fled the scene on foot.

Police were informed during the search that Kneeland had “expressed suicidal intentions”. He was found dead at 1:31am local time on Thursday.

The Cowboys said in a statement: “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning.

“Marshawn was a beloved team-mate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”

Kneeland missed six games of his rookie season in 2024 due to injury, but still played in 11 games with one start.

He had played in seven of the Cowboys’ games this season and in his last recorded his first touchdown when he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone during the Cowboys’ 27-17 loss Monday night to the Arizona Cardinals.

Kneeland was the Cowboys’ second-round pick out of Western Michigan University in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“Marshawn was so much more than an incredible football player – he was a remarkable young man who meant so much to our program and to me personally,” Western Michigan head football coach Lance Taylor said in a statement.

“Having coached him during my first season here, we developed a special bond that went far beyond football. His passion for life and his teammates were unmatched.”

The NFL said in a statement the league was “deeply saddened” by news of Kneeland’s death.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates,” the league said. “We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.”