Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend sends emotional message while Cowboys face mounting criticism over giving away his jersey number too soon

The grief surrounding Marshawn Kneeland has not faded with time. Six months after the former Dallas Cowboys defensive end died at 24, his girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, shared another deeply personal message about the loss that continues to shape her everyday life. Her Instagram story, posted this week, brought renewed attention to the emotional weight still carried by those closest to him. At the same time, criticism aimed at the Cowboys over Kneeland’s No. 94 jersey has reopened difficult conversations around how the franchise has handled his memory since his death in November 2025.

Why are fans upset about Marshawn Kneeland’s No. 94 jersey being reassigned?

Catalina Mancera’s latest post did not feel crafted for public reaction. It felt raw and personal. Alongside a quiet photo of Kneeland sitting in a car beneath a bright sky, she wrote, “6 months of missing you has already felt like forever… and I’m still trying to understand how I’m supposed to live a whole lifetime without you, my angel ��”

The post struck a chord across NFL circles because it reflected something more intimate than public mourning. The image looked ordinary, almost accidental. That simplicity made it heavier. With Sam Smith’s “Lay Me Down” playing in the background, the story captured the kind of grief that lingers in silence rather than spectacle.

Authorities said Kneeland died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Nov. 6, 2025. Police also revealed he had expressed suicidal thoughts before his death. Earlier that evening, Mancera reportedly told officers she feared he might harm himself because of ongoing mental health struggles.

In the months since, Mancera has continued posting memories of their relationship. The two met while attending Western Michigan University, and she later revealed she is pregnant with their child, who is expected to be born in June 2026. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed the pregnancy shortly after Kneeland’s death.

The Cowboys initially received praise for honoring Kneeland. Team owner Jerry Jones announced helmet decals featuring No. 94 for the remainder of the 2025 season, and the organization also established a memorial fund for Mancera and the couple’s unborn child.

Still, frustration surfaced when undrafted rookie defensive lineman Kelvin Gilliam wore No. 94 during rookie minicamp. Former Cowboys safety Juanyeh Thomas publicly criticized the move.

“That 94 should have been off limits until my brother’s contract fully expired,” Thomas wrote. “Just don’t feel right.”

The backlash was not entirely about a jersey. Around the league, numbers often carry emotional history, especially after tragedy. Rookie minicamp assignments are usually temporary, and the number may still be changed later. But for people who knew Kneeland personally, the timing felt abrupt.

That reaction became even stronger because Kneeland had openly embraced the history tied to No. 94, once worn by Cowboys legends DeMarcus Ware and Charles Haley.

“I just want to add on to the legacy of the number,” Kneeland had once said. “I wanna get the number retired. It’s been some greats that have had it.”

Stay updated with the latest IPL Live Score Score, IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL Schedule, check the IPL Points Table, and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.