Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was keeping late teammate Marshawn Kneeland in his thoughts during the team’s first game since the defensive star’s tragic death.
Kneeland, who was in his second season with the Cowboys, died by apparent suicide at the age of 24 earlier this month, just 48 hours after he scored his first career NFL touchdown.
The team paid tribute to the defensive lineman as they faced the Las Vegas Raiders in their first game since losing their teammate.
Prescott, who lost his older brother to suicide in 2020, took extra measures to remember Kneeland as he wore a special message throughout the Monday Night Football matchup.
The signal caller wore a band of white tape around his left wrist as he took to the field, writing ‘One Love,’ in block capital over the strip, which was a favorite phrase of Kneeland’s.
‘RIP 94,’ he added, referring to Kneeland’s jersey number.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott wore an emotional message for Marshawn Kneeland
Cowboys defensive lineman Kneeland died by apparent suicide earlier this month
‘One Love, RIP 94,’ the signal caller wrote on the white tape wrapped around his wrist
Photos of Prescott’s tributes went viral on social media with many emotional fans praising the move and some even sharing GIFs of people crying.
Prescott has long been an advocate for mental health, making a concreted effort to support others who have struggled through tough situations or have suffered the loss of a loved one.
In April 2020, Prescott’s older brother, Jace, took his own life at the age of 31. The three Prescott brothers had been very close, particularly after 2013, when they lost their mother Peggy to colon cancer while Dak was still playing at Mississippi State.
Dak previously said he knew Jace bore the greatest burden as their mom’s primary caregiver while she battled cancer.
The youngest of three brothers, Dak said the Covid-19 pandemic was a struggle because he’s a people person who thrives through interacting with and trying to inspire others.
Prescott bore a similar message during the opening game of the season in September, which would have been his mother’s 64th birthday, with the memory of his mother weighing heavily on him before the 24-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
‘Happy Birthday Mom!’ Prescott wrote in all capital letters on his left wrist.
Prescott previously spoke on Kneeland’s death and insisted it’s ‘a pain that you don’t wish upon anybody’.
Prescott said: ‘I hurt for Marshawn, I hurt for his family, I hurt for his girlfriend, I hurt for every single one of my teammates.
Cowboys players were seen wearing custom tribute t-shirts for the defensive end
Meanwhile, Raiders players wore warmup shirts displaying the suicide hotline number
‘This is a pain that you don’t wish upon anybody. You wish none of us had to go through this. You wish Marshawn didn’t have to go through what he went through.
‘Tough moment for this team. I feel and hurt for everybody that’s involved in this and Marshawn’s family and loved ones.’
The Cowboys returned to the field for the first time since Kneeland’s death on Monday night and, prior to the game, they honored Kneeland with a touching tribute.
During their warm-ups at Allegiant Stadium, the Cowboys players were seen wearing custom tribute t-shirts with Kneeland’s face on the front.
The Cowboys players also had Kneeland’s number, 94, on their helmets, in another form of commemoration for the defensive end.
In their own tribute, the Raiders players wore custom t-shirts which had Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, 988, written on the back.
Meanwhile, before kick-off, a moment of silence was held while a tribute video for Kneeland was shown on screen which was perfectly observed by attendees.
The Cowboys also had a locker for Kneeland at the Allegiant Stadium, which had his jersey hanging up.
In one video posted on social media, Cowboys QB Dak Prescott was seen making a prayer on the sidelines, while wearing the Kneeland tribute t-shirt.
