FRISCO, Texas — Days after scoring his first NFL touchdown, Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide near the team’s facility Thursday following a police chase in Frisco, authorities said. He was 24.

Kneeland’s great uncle, Preston Kneeland, confirmed the news when reached by phone Thursday morning, telling The Dallas Morning News his nephew was an “outstanding young man.”

“He was the gentle giant,” Preston said of the 6-3, 275-pound defender. “He was just an outstanding dude, and we loved him very much.”

The police chase started shortly after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday when troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation in the northbound lanes of the Dallas North Tollway near Keller Springs Boulevard, Frisco polic

See Full Page