Late Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina Mancera, has given birth to the couple’s first child, seven months after his death.
“My favorite gift from you 🤍,” Mancera captioned a series of photos of son Makhai posted to Instagram on Monday, June 15, noting that the little one was born on Thursday, June 11.
One of the pictures shows the couple’s son wearing a onesie emblazoned with his father’s last name and his jersey number, 94.
Mancera also shared a video of the moment she showed Kneeland her positive pregnancy test before his death in November 2025.
The Dallas Cowboys defensive end died by suicide last year following a police car chase in Frisco, Texas. He was 24.
Police officers attempted to pull Kneeland over for a traffic violation on November 5, 2025, but lost sight of the football player’s vehicle. The car was later found crashed and abandoned, and Kneeland’s body was discovered in the early hours of November 6 following a search.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the Cowboys said in a statement at the time. “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland,” the NFL said in its own statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his girlfriend Catalina, family, friends and his teammates. We have been in contact with the Cowboys and have offered support and counseling resources.”
Shortly after news broke of Kneeland’s death, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed that Mancera was pregnant with the couple’s first child. Mancera herself confirmed her pregnancy in December 2025.
“My sweet baby, I dreamed of you long before I ever knew you. I dreamed of building a family, of the life your dad and I talked about and imagined together,” she wrote in an Instagram post last December. “I’m so excited for you, but my heart still aches. It aches for the moments I won’t get to share with him, and for the love I wish you could experience the way I did.”
“I don’t think time will ever make this easier, but I know God knew what my heart needed. He blessed me with you when I needed you most,” Mancera added. “In the middle of all this, you gave me purpose, hope, and something to hold onto. I trust God’s timing, even when it hurts, and I know He’s carrying us both. I promise to love you with everything I have for me and for your dad. I can’t wait to meet you, to hold you, and to watch you grow.”
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