Father of Marshawn Kneeland Declines All NFL Donations, Donates the Money to Support Autistic Children in the City: “I Don’t Want Another Child to Suffer the Way My Son Did”

Frisco, Texas – November 8, 2025

In a powerful act of compassion that moved the entire NFL community, Mr. Shawn Kneeland, father of the late Marshawn Kneeland of the Dallas Cowboys, has declined all donations from NFL organizations, teams, and players that were sent to support his family after the heartbreaking loss of his son.

According to family representatives, Mr. Kneeland only kept a small portion of the funds to cover funeral expenses. The rest of the money was donated to the Frisco Children’s Autism Foundation, a local organization that supports children with autism and their families — the same city where Marshawn grew up and took part in several charity activities during his life.

In an emotional and uninterrupted statement, Mr. Kneeland spoke calmly but with deep conviction:
“I don’t want another child to suffer the way my son did. I don’t want to see another hopeless gaze or a lonely soul left in silence. If this can bring hope, then it’s how my son continues to live and give — as a Cowboy. His legacy will live on forever.”

Mr. Kneeland’s decision has been widely praised across the NFL as a profound act of kindness and strength. Players, coaches, and fans from around the country have expressed admiration, calling his gesture “the most beautiful legacy Marshawn could have left behind.”

The donation has officially been transferred to the Frisco Children’s Autism Foundation, which confirmed plans to create a new program named “The Kneeland Heart Project” — honoring both Marshawn’s compassion and his father’s remarkable humanity.

As the memorial service came to a close, Mr. Kneeland stood silently before the stands, where fans held up signs reading “Forever 94.” In that golden Texas sunset, Marshawn’s legacy was no longer just about tackles and highlights — it became a light of kindness, carried forward by a father’s unbreakable love.

And in a quiet moment that brought tears to everyone present, Mr. Kneeland revealed that the last message his son ever sent him contained just two simple words — “Love you, Dad.”