During a tribute for the late Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland, a moment of silence at Denver’s Empower Field was disrupted by a few fans heckling, just before the Broncos faced the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night.
The overwhelming majority of the 76,000 attendees at the stadium respectfully honored the memory of the 24-year-old player, whose tragic death occurred in Texas the night before.
However, the disruption from a few individuals during the silence did not go unnoticed, as fans watching the game from home expressed their outrage.
“Hearing people shout ‘F you’ during a moment of silence is appalling,” one fan commented on X.
Another viewer remarked, “The NFL should eject anyone causing a disturbance during moments of silence. Who behaves like this? What’s wrong with this country?”
A different fan expressed frustration, saying, “It’s sad to hear people yelling obscenities during the Marshawn Kneeland tribute.”
Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland died on Wednesday night at age 24
Kneeland, 24, was discovered dead after fleeing Texas State troopers at around 10:30pm local time on Wednesday. The Texas Department of Public Safety later released a statement saying Kneeland had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Football wasn’t the only sport making an emotional tribute to Kneeland on Thursday.
The Dallas Stars also held a moment of silence for him before their NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday evening.
And overall, fans thought the Broncos staging a silence for Kneeland was a classy gesture.
‘I hope every NFL team does this,’ one wrote on social media, while another said: ‘Shout out to for the tribute to Marshawn Kneeland… Rest Easy 94.’
According to a statement shared by the DPS, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers attempted to stop Kneeland for a traffic violation on the Dallas North Tollway.
However, he allegedly refused to pull over, sparking a subsequent car chase that resulted in the pursuing authorities losing sight of Kneeland’s vehicle.
The 24-year-old football player is pictured with his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera
Kneeland scored his first NFL touchdown on Monday, just two days before his death
His vehicle was later discovered abandoned after it had crashed on Dallas Parkway, with Kneeland being found deceased soon after.
In a tragic 911 audio recording obtained by TMZ, Kneeland’s girlfriend told police that he would ‘end it all’ shortly after cops had performed a wellness check at his residence the night of his death.
‘We’re talking to the girlfriend, she’s trying to call the agent, so we’re trying to get her to call him first but she’s saying he is armed and has a history of mental illness,’ cops said on the recording.
The dispatch also stated that the NFL had contacted the Plano Police Department saying that the family of one of its players was concerned for his welfare. ‘The subject is texting his family goodbye,’ the operator said.
Kneeland, a second-round pick last year, was remembered as a ‘devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend’ by his family.
‘We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief,’ they said. ‘As Marshawn was making his mark on the football field with the Dallas Cowboys, he held an even more special place off the field – as a devoted son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, grandson, and friend.
‘He was kind, determined, humble, and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.
‘We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, fans, and the community. During this difficult time, we ask for privacy as we come together as a family to honor and remember Marshawn’s life and legacy.’
His agent, Jonathan Perzley, also confirmed the ‘tremendous loss, while the Cowboys said he was a ‘beloved teammate and member of our organization’ in a statement shared on Thursday morning.
