Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer speaks out for first time since death of Marshawn Kneeland
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer spoke publicly for the first time since the death of Marshawn Kneeland last week.
Kneeland, a defensive end for the Cowboys, died at age 24, the team and local authorities confirmed Thursday morning.
While speaking to the media on Wednesday, Schottenheimer said the team has spent time together celebrating the life of Kneeland and supporting each other and his girlfriend, Catalina. Schottenheimer also said the team also established the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund to support Catalina, who is pregnant.
Kneeland often said the words "one love," Schottenheimer said, and the team has spent the last few days talking about love as they grieve.
"I will miss his playful spirit...his smile could take you to your knees," he said. "In terms of an athlete, no one had a better motor than him."
The team has met almost every day since Kneeland's death, Schottenheimer said, from having breakfast as a team to meeting with professionals to help them grieve to speaking at Kneeland's vigil last night.
Several times, Schottenheimer said he was proud of his team and how everyone came together while grieving.
"I'm hurting and these guys have picked me up, and I picked them up," Schottenheimer said. "We love one another, that's what a family does."
"I'm always gonna tell them how much I love them and I do, I care about them," he said. "[It will] probably never be the same."
Cowboys to honor Marshawn Kneeland with helmet sticker
Cowboys players are expected to have input on the design of the helmet sticker that will honor Kneeland, which the team will wear for the rest of the season.
"[The players] will be ready to face the Raiders [on Monday] and we will honor Marshawn the rest of the season," Schottenheimer said.
The players will also pay tribute to Kneeland by wearing specially designed t-shirts at their next two games, Monday night at Las Vegas and the following Sunday when they will host the Eagles.