Aaron Whitecotton, now a Tennessee Titans defensive line coach, choked up during a Wednesday media session when asked about former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland. Wearing a No. 94 pin in Kneeland’s honor, Whitecotton said, “I miss Marshawn ever
When Aaron Whitecotton walked into Wednesday’s media session, he didn’t just show up with the Tennessee Titans defense on his mind. He wore a No. 94 pin—quiet proof of who still occupies the space in Dallas that football can’t fill.
Whitecotton. the Titans defensive line coach and a former Dallas defensive line coach. became emotional when he was asked about Marshawn Kneeland. Kneeland. the late Cowboys defensive end. died by suicide in November 2025 at the age of 24 after spending two seasons with Dallas. The question hit, and the reaction came fast.
“I miss Marshawn every day,” Whitecotton said. “I love him. I’m really thankful that we have his baby boy to carry on his legacy. Because Marshawn was a special guy, man. He was a special guy to me.”
Whitecotton’s connection to Kneeland wasn’t limited to schemes or scouting reports. He spent only one season coaching Kneeland in Dallas, but he said the impact stayed. He has honored the defender before as well—wearing Kneeland’s jersey prior to a Cowboys game—and he did it again this time in the form of the pin.
The memories inside the Cowboys building have not faded, even more than seven months after Kneeland’s passing. The organization has continued to recognize his legacy by installing a tribute in the team locker room and sharing updates tied to his family.
Makhai Kneeland was born on June 11. His mother, Catalina Mancera, was pregnant when Kneeland passed away. And head coach Brian Schottenheimer has said the organization intends to support both Kneeland’s son and Mancera moving forward.
Kneeland was described by those who knew him as someone widely respected for how he treated people. Friends, teammates, and coaches repeatedly characterized him as caring, and “One Love” was known as his personal motto.
For Whitecotton, that’s what made the question difficult—because it wasn’t just about football. It was about losing someone the organization still talks about in present tense. His words carried the kind of grief that doesn’t disappear with time. and on Wednesday it came through in the simplest way possible: “Man I miss Marshawn every day.”.
Marshawn Kneeland Dallas Cowboys Aaron Whitecotton Tennessee Titans Brian Schottenheimer No. 94 Makhai Kneeland Catalina Mancera NFL news
Damn, that’s heartbreaking. Football doesn’t fix anything.
Wait he died by suicide in 2025?? That’s so sad. I’m glad they’re still doing a tribute, but like… why does the headline say “haunts”??
So the Titans coach is wearing a pin, cool I guess. But didn’t the Cowboys get rid of him like immediately? I feel like teams don’t actually help families, they just put up a locker room thing and call it support.
“One Love”?? That’s what my cousin says too when people are going through it, kinda wild. Also the mother was pregnant when he passed, that’s just… I don’t even know. I feel like someone missed signs or something, and then everyone says “respect” and “legacy” but nobody says what REALLY happened. Just awful.