Friends Ride the Open Road to Honor Dallas Cowboys Player Marshawn Kneeland

A month after Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland took his own life, friends on the open road are honoring his memory with a memorial motorcycle ride.

A Tragic Loss

Marshawn Kneeland’s death followed a welfare check and a police chase last month. The loss reverberated not only among teammates but also among the friends he made riding motorcycles.

A Friendship Forged on Two Wheels

University of North Texas student Yahya Mahmoud quickly became a close companion through their shared passion for motorcycling. Mahmoud described Kneeland as “He was a very humble guy. Very lowkey,” Mahmoud said. He added that he did not realize at first that his friend was the same Marshawn Kneeland who played for the Dallas Cowboys. “Nothing between me and him really changed,” Mahmoud said.

Over the past year the two rode motorcycles together twice a week, building a friendship rooted in a shared love of the open road. Mahmoud recalled, “There was a vibe around him — it was like seeing a big, giant teddy bear walking in front of you, pretty much,” Mahmoud said.

The Last Moments

Mahmoud was watching when Kneeland scored a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. “We jumped out of our seats, we were screaming and everything,” Mahmoud said. His congratulatory text would become one of the last messages he ever sent his friend. Days later, he woke up to the news that Kneeland had taken his own life.

“I didn’t go to class. Kind of just self-isolated for three or four days. Just didn’t talk to anyone, really,” Mahmoud said. “It was really devastating. I even texted him, I was like, ‘Bro, is this a prank or something?’ Like, I didn’t really think it was real.”

A month later, he said the loss still doesn’t feel real. “I used to talk to him on a daily, like, since the day we met. It was almost every single day,” Mahmoud said.

Memorial Ride

Mahmoud and others joined a memorial ride over the weekend, organized by Adam Zoubi, another friend who rode with Kneeland regularly. “Remember what he loved to do on this earth,” Zoubi said. “He’s my best friend, man, I’ve been knowing him for a while. Celebrated holidays together. We were together once or twice a week, at least.”

For Mahmoud, the road feels emptier now. “Anytime he was in a room, he was just always smiling, no matter what,” Mahmoud said. “In every situation, you can just count on him to just be that light in the darkness.”

Key Takeaways

• Marshawn Kneeland, former Dallas Cowboys player, died by suicide last month after a welfare check and police chase.
• Friends Yahya Mahmoud and Adam Zoubi organized a memorial motorcycle ride to honor him.
• Mahmoud’s friendship with Kneeland began through motorcycle riding and continued daily until the day of his death.

The memorial ride serves as a poignant reminder of the bonds formed on the open road and the lasting impact of a life cut short.

Closing

While the memory of Marshawn Kneeland continues to resonate with those who knew him, the memorial ride offers a way for friends to celebrate his love for riding and to keep his spirit alive on the highways he once enjoyed.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org — callers will be connected with trained counselors available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.