# Former Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland had early stage CTE when he died at 24

Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland was found to have early stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death at age 24. The neurodegenerative disease, linked to repeated head impacts, highlights ongoing concerns about brain health in football even among young players.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Sports
- [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jul/07/marshawn-kneeland-death-cte) — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:47:45 GMT