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Catalina Mancera thanked her supporters in an emotional message as she celebrated the unborn child she shares with late Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
In November, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Frisco Police Department confirmed that Kneeland died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase in Texas. The 24-year-old recorded his first NFL touchdown just days before his death.
Mancera recently threw a baby shower attended by friends and family. She shared photos from the special event Monday on Instagram, writing, “Words can’t explain how grateful I am for the people God has placed in my life. In such a difficult season, the love and support around me has made everything a little brighter.”
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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland walks on the field during the team’s training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California on July 25, 2024. (Brandon Sloter/Sportswire Icon)
She went on to sincerely thank her friends and family, acknowledging their love and prayers for helping her through a difficult time.
“I’m so grateful to everyone who came to celebrate me and baby, and even those who couldn’t make it but still showed love from afar. I also want to thank my family for throwing me such a beautiful shower in Michigan. I want to thank both of our families for all the love they showed me during this time. I will never forget the kindness, prayers, and support that sustained me through it all,” the caption concluded from Instagram.
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Mancera previously said her due date was in June.
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland leaves the field after the game against the New Orleans Saints at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on September 15, 2024. (Tim Heitman/Imagn Images)
Kneeland was a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and appeared in 18 games for Dallas.
Police said officers arrived on scene Nov. 6, 2025, and found a vehicle that had crashed near the southbound lanes of a local parkway. Kneeland fled on foot.
Authorities also said Kneeland contacted his family via text message before his death to say goodbye, police told dispatchers, according to audio obtained and reviewed by People.
Marshawn Kneeland #94 of the Dallas Cowboys rushes the passer during an NFL game against the New York Giants at AT&T Field in Arlington, Texas on September 14, 2025. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Shortly after the tragedy, the Cowboys released a statement saying, “It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share the tragic passing of Marshawn Kneeland this morning. Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Last year, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said a scholarship fund had been established for Kneeland’s daughter.
“We want to make sure that she and the baby are taken care of for the rest of her life. That’s very important to our guys and to us,” Schottenheimer said. “The organization has been amazing, we started the Marshawn Kneeland Memorial Fund where we can all give and support Catalina.”
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Schottenheimer also revealed that the team started a memorial fund honoring Kneeland and supporting Catalina. Schottenheimer also recalled some of the memories he shared with the last smuggler.
“Marshawn loved the words ‘one love,'” Schottenheimer said. “So we talked a lot about love while we were grieving.”
