The tragedy was particularly painful for Thomas, whose sister Ella Thomas died by suicide in 2018. As a result, the football star felt especially called to help his teammates through the trying circumstances.
“It’s very triggering for me having lost a sister to suicide,” he explained. “But [I] definitely have a responsibility to be here for my teammates to let them know that there’s help available, that there’s love out there, and that there’s a way to move through this together in a way of honoring Marshawn and honoring our own feelings at the same time.”
Kneeland died after crashing his car during a pursuit with Texas police on the night of Nov. 5, after which he fled the scene on foot, according to a press release by local authorities. His body was found early the next day.
Hours after the fatal incident, Kneeland’s family issued a statement saying they were “still processing the depth of our grief.”
“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,” the Facebook statement read. “His light shone brightly in every life he touched, and his spirit will continue to live on through the countless hearts he inspired.”
