The girlfriend of tragic Dallas Cowboys star Marshawn Kneeland has given birth to a baby boy, seven months on from his death.
Kneeland shocked the NFL world in November when he died by self-inflicted gunshot wound, and it was later revealed that his partner, Catalina Mancera, was expecting their first child.
Mancera has now taken to Instagram to reveal the birth of a baby boy, named Makhai, seven months on from the death of Marshawn.
In a heartbreaking post, she shared a series of images, one of which showed the baby wearing a hand-knitted jumper with his father’s Cowboys jersey on.
Alongside the post, she wrote: ‘My favorite gift from you. June 11, 2026.’
Also in the post was a video from the start of her pregnancy, sharing the exact moment she told the NFL star she was expecting a baby.
Fans flooded to the comments section to share their goodwill at the announcement, with one writing: ‘Congratulations! I know this moment is bringing a lot of feelings, but I hope amidst them all you give yourself grace and cherish each moment.’
The ex-fiancee of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Sarah Jane Ramos, also commented, writing: ‘Congratulations babe.’
The Cowboys’ official account also posted a series of blue love hearts.
Back in November, Mancera was thrust into the spotlight when news of her boyfriend’s death broke.
She was working with police to attempt to locate Kneeland in the minutes before his tragic death, but she was also seen being placed in handcuffs during the horrific ordeal.
She was captured on bodycam footage informing police that Kneeland was armed, that he had a history of mental illness and he had mentioned he would ‘end it all.’
Mancera is still mourning the loss of her partner and Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland after he took his own life following a police chase in suburban Dallas in November
His girlfriend sounded the alarm to the police after she received a concerning text message
‘The girlfriend has his location. But she’s not giving it to us … She’s like, “He’s going to kill himself. I can’t tell you where he’s at,”‘ a Frisco police officer said. Authorities later said Mancera worked with officers to find Kneeland.
Less than an hour earlier at around 10:35pm, Texas State Troopers began to pursue Kneeland’s vehicle.
Officers were initially unaware that the driver they were pursuing was Kneeland. After a search of the vehicle’s identification number revealed it was owned by the NFL player, they presumed it to have been stolen.
Soon after, Kneeland crashed into a pickup truck and fled on foot, sparking a widespread search that included K-9 sniffer dogs, drones and even Texas state troopers firing pepper balls into drainage tunnels.
Kneeland’s vehicle, which he said to have been driving at speeds higher than 145mph, ended up in a grassy area beside the tollway in Frisco near an office park area with office buildings, businesses and apartments.
Troopers said an empty holster was found underneath the driver’s seat of Kneeland’s car.
Still unaware that the man they were pursuing was Kneeland, officers searched the shopping complex before being led to a wooded area by a K-9. Shortly after 11:30pm, they then narrowed in on a culvert, a closed pipe that helps manage the flow of water.
Kneeland’s vehicle was discovered abandoned on a grassy area by the side of the road
‘Frisco K-9. If you’re in this tunnel, I’m going to send my dog in here. He is going to bite you. This is your last opportunity,’ a Frisco officer said.
Authorities later fired pepper balls into the tunnels and sent a drone into them, but did not find Kneeland inside.
At around 1:32am, police finally located Kneeland’s deceased body inside a port-a-potty.
Mancera had sounded the alarm to the police after she received a concerning text message from the NFL star, saying that he would ‘end it all.’
In devastating 911 audio, dispatchers could be heard relaying information from Kneeland’s girlfriend, who reportedly said that he had a history of mental illness and that he was armed.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed in the days following Kneeland’s death that Mancera was pregnant, and the franchise set up a memorial fund to support her and their then-unborn child.
