Green Bay Packers’ Micah Parsons Reflects on Mental Health, Honors Late Cowboys Teammate Marshawn Kneeland
Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons expressed his deep grief and respect for his former Dallas Cowboys teammate, Marshawn Kneeland, who passed away from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound this week. The 24-year-old player, who had recently made his NFL debut, died after a police chase in Texas. Parsons shared his thoughts on the tragic event, focusing on the mental health challenges faced by athletes and the need for a supportive community within the NFL.
Parsons, who played alongside Kneeland during his time with the Cowboys, emphasized the importance of mutual respect and support among teammates. ‘Marshawn was a guy who loved his anime, loved his video games like anybody else,’ he stated in an interview with ESPN. ‘To me, he always showed me nothing but respect from the moment he came into the locker room. He respected me as a player; he respected me as a person.’ This sentiment underscored Parsons’ belief in the brotherhood within the NFL, where players often form deep, lasting bonds despite the competitive nature of the sport.
Parsons also addressed the broader mental health concerns facing athletes, noting the immense pressure they face. ‘We’d be fools to act like what we do isn’t enough pressure as it is,’ he said. ‘We live in a pressure job where you’re expected to deliver, and you’re expected to play a certain way. And when you don’t, it’s easy to say,