Talkin’ Cowboys: In Memory of Marshawn Kneeland

Episode Date: November 10, 2025
Hosts: Kyle Yeomans, Patrick Nosie Walker, Josh Rodriguez, Tommy Yarish
Location: The Star, Frisco, TX

Episode Overview

This special episode of Talkin’ Cowboys is dedicated to the memory of Marshawn Kneeland, the Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman who recently passed away at age 24. The team, returning after a bye week, opens up about their experiences, loss, and the effects of mental health struggles, both within the football community and beyond. After an extended and heartfelt tribute, the crew returns to football talk—sharing updates, provides analysis, and offers a candid "bye week wish list" for the Cowboys’ remainder of the season.

In Memory of Marshawn Kneeland

[01:18–20:22]

Reflections & Community Grief

• Kyle Yeomans begins the show with a somber acknowledgement of Marshawn Kneeland’s recent passing. He describes the suddenness and organizational impact, stating,

  “To lose Marshawn Kneeland in the way that he did… was devastating to the entire organization. Whether you’re a media member, player, coach, staff member—it doesn’t matter. It was pretty devastating, even to the fans.” (03:05)

• Tommy Yarish shares his limited personal interaction with Marshawn, remembering him as always “kind and gracious with his time” despite not loving media duties. Tommy stresses the importance of checking on loved ones and mental health awareness:

  “At the end of the day, it’s okay not to be okay, and it’s okay to talk about not being okay.” (04:52)
  He shares helpful resources for those struggling, including the 988 lifeline, Crisis text at 741741, and FindSupport.gov.

• Josh Rodriguez emphasizes the reality and enormity of the loss and pushes back on the “play for” narratives:

  “I don’t want to hear that phrase, and I don’t want to hear any rhetoric of that sort. …This is something that is incalculable as far as a loss goes… The only thing I can echo right now is just to check on your friends. Always be willing to have an open ear, and toxic masculinity always kind of gets in the way sometimes of us opening up to each other.” (06:21)

• Patrick Nosie Walker (the closest personally to Marshawn) delivers a deeply emotional recollection:

  “I have so many questions… condolences isn’t a word that qualifies for what I feel for his family. And Catalina. I wish there was more I could have done, but that young man was like a little brother to me.” (09:41)

  Patrick openly discusses his own history as a suicide attempt survivor and is passionate about mental health advocacy:

  “Mental health. Anybody who knows me or has known me… knows how passionate I am about mental health and mental health advocacy. …One of my favorite phrases to ask, is you solid? …Just saying that simple phrase can save your life. …Don’t sit with the demons. They will win. Don’t fight with them in the dark. They will win. The only way to defeat the demons is to turn the light on. That’s the way to do it.” (10:17)

  Notably, he adds:

  “I gave you your roses when you could smell them. I told you I love you when you could hear it. And then his last words to me were, ‘I’ll see you later, Pat.’ You will. It’ll be a while, though, because I got work to do. And that work now includes making sure your legacy continues. But I’ll see you later, bro. Be at peace.” (14:47)

• Kyle Yeomans closes the segment underscoring the magnitude of the loss:

  “As much as we do sit up here and we talk about football, this is bigger than the game of football. And it will always be bigger than the game of football. We miss you, Marshawn. We love you. Rest easy, 94.” (15:48)

Mental Health Resources (Repeated for Emphasis, 18:00 & 18:44):

• Call or text 988 for immediate help.

• Text COALITION to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.

• Visit FindSupport.gov or mhanational.org.

• Visit a psychiatrist, psychologist, or mental health professional.

• Patrick Nosie Walker further reiterates:

  “If you follow me on any platform, my ear is always available… The demons will lie to you… But you don’t [have to do this alone]… If you feel like you need to reach out to someone and you’re uncomfortable… at Voice of the Star. Yeah, I’m listening. We can talk.” (18:44)

Cowboys News & Notes

[25:11–36:27]

• Cowboys return from the bye week: Slow news week with little roster development, as major stories occurred prior to the break—trade acquisitions of Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams, Malik Davis’s waiving and practice squad return.
• Running back rotation update:
  • Malik Davis and Jaden Blue are competing for RB2.
  • Malik Davis is ahead largely due to pass protection (“That’s something that you can knock on Jaden Blue so far… pass protection” — Josh Rodriguez, 26:33).
  • Ongoing hope for rookie Phil Mafa’s activation and the impact that could have on the rotation.
• Discussion of potentially honoring Marshawn Kneeland:
  Patrick expresses hope that the Cowboys carry a 52-man roster, leaving the 53rd spot vacant for the rest of the season in Marshawn’s honor (28:01).
• Running back strategy speculation:
  Tommy Yarish notes that each backup RB has been “given their shot,” but none have seized the role behind Javonte Williams. Patrick advocates for getting Phil Mafa ready not just for 2025, but to provide depth in case of further injuries (32:57).

By-Week Wish List

[43:00–53:10]

A roundtable of Cowboys “wishes” for the season’s second half:

Defensive Adjustments

• Patrick Nosie Walker:

  “I want to see more man coverage… It needs to be a healthy balance. A 50-50 split would be wonderful for me because I want to keep the opposing offenses guessing.” (44:47)

• Josh Rodriguez:

  “I really want the turnover margin to start swinging the right way… I think the improvement of your defensive line now, the improvement of your linebacker core, especially with Logan Wilson, who has 11 interceptions on his career already, I think that’s going to be a great addition.” (45:37)

• Tommy Yarish:
  Wishes rookie CB Savone Revel emerges as a legitimate outside corner post-injury, which “bodes really well for this defense, especially how much they invested in the front seven.” (46:36)

Offensive Line Consistency

• Kyle Yeomans:

  “I want to see solidified confidence in your offensive line… If you were to tell me going into week 11 that you’re going to have your starting five O-linemen… I’d say, all right, this team’s going to be able to put up some yards, protect Dak Prescott, and have some protection up front.” (47:31)

Discipline and Turnovers

• Patrick Nosie Walker:

  “I need this team to figure out how to not shoot itself in the foot. …Control what you can control. You can control if you false start, you can control defensively if you’re lining up in the neutral zone. …This is not a team that can afford to suffer those penalties and still overcome.” (48:45)

Getting Weapons Back Involved

• Josh Rodriguez:
  Playfully calls for “Big Biscuits”—Jake Ferguson—to become a bigger part of the offense again:

  “I miss the Jake Ferguson going up against Seattle and bowing up to some dudes… I want to see more yards after [the] catch for Jake Ferguson.” (50:58)

Running Game Rhythm

• Tommy Yarish:

  “Early in the season, they were having so much success [in the run game] for Javonte Williams, and it hasn’t been as successful… This should be a game where, against the Raiders front seven, you can push things around a little bit, especially in the interior… That opens play action, and that’s where Dak is at his best.” (51:41)

Player Moves—(Jokingly)

• Patrick and Josh toss out free agent names ("Justin Simmons," "Quandre Diggs," even "Natalie Portman" for laughs)—desiring key defensive pieces for a playoff push (52:33).

The Ultimate Wish

• Kyle Yeomans:

  “My final wish for the post-bye week for the Dallas Cowboys… I wish the Cowboys would just go ahead and win the Super Bowl. And just make it.” (53:07)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Patrick Nosie Walker

  “Don’t sit with the demons. They will win. Don’t fight with them in the dark. They will win. The only way to defeat the demons is to turn the light on.” (10:37)

• Tommy Yarish

  “The world is better with you in it, and I believe that from the bottom of my heart.” (05:37; repeated by others throughout the show)

• Team camaraderie is emphasized as they say “Love you, Marshawn. Love you, everybody listening. Love you, brother.” and share grief and support on air. (20:22)

Key Timestamps

• 01:18 – Show pivots to Marshawn Kneeland’s loss; personal tributes begin.
• 04:17 – Tommy Yarish on mental health and resources.
• 06:21 – Josh Rodriguez on supporting friends, challenging “play for him” narratives.
• 08:33-14:47 – Patrick Nosie Walker’s emotional tribute to Marshawn and message to listeners.
• 25:34-36:27 – Cowboys roster/rotation, RB2 discussion, speculation on Phil Mafa.
• 43:00-53:07 – Roundtable “bye week wish list” for the second half of the season.

Tone & Language

The episode is deeply heartfelt, candid, and supportive, dealing openly with grief, mental health, and the bonds forged in a football organization. The crew honors Marshawn Kneeland with sincerity, vulnerability, and warmth—frequently using supportive language and urging listeners to seek and offer help. Once the conversation transitions to football and tactical analysis, the tone returns to typical banter—honest, slightly irreverent, and passionate about the sport.

Summary

This remarkable episode of Talkin’ Cowboys balances tragedy and the healing power of community. The crew offers an intimate look at the shock and grief following Marshawn Kneeland’s loss, with especially moving testimony from Patrick Nosie Walker, and turns attention toward the importance of mental health. In the football segments, the group delivers cogent analysis and future hopes for the Cowboys as they return from the bye—and, above all, keeps Marshawn’s light and legacy at the center of their hearts and their work.

“Rest easy, 94.”

Resources for Support:

• Lifeline: Call/Text 988
• Text COALITION to 741741
• FindSupport.gov
• mhanational.org
• If you need to talk: Reach out to Patrick (@VoiceOfTheStar), the Talking Cowboys team, or a professional. The world is better with you in it.