Catalina Mancera, the girlfriend of late Dallas Cowboys star Marshawn Kneeland, has given birth to their only child seven months after his death.
Mancera, 22, announced Monday on Instagram that their son, Makhai, was born June 11, writing: “my favorite gift from you.”
The post included a picture of the newborn in a onesie embroidered with his father’s last name and Cowboys jersey number, 94, on it, as well as a video of Mancera showing Kneeland a positive pregnancy test.
Kneeland died by suicide after a police car chase in Frisco, Texas, in November 2025. He was 24.
Police had tried to pull Kneeland over for evading a traffic stop on November 5, but he ran from the scene and reached speeds up to 160 miles per hour during the chase. The car was later found crashed and abandoned, and Kneeland’s body was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Investigators said he had previously expressed suicidal thoughts and sent goodbye messages to his family and friends.
The defensive lineman was a second-round pick by the Cowboys in 2024. He played 18 NFL games and scored his first touchdown a week before his death.
“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.”
Shortly after the news of his death, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer revealed that Mancera, who had been dating Kneeland since 2022, was pregnant with the couple’s first child. The team then set up a memorial fund to support Mancera and the baby.
Mancera wrote on Instagram after Kneeland’s death: “Not only am I mourning you, but I’m mourning our future and all the dreams we talked about building together. This upcoming year should’ve been the best year of our lives, and now it’s not. All our talks of marriage and raising a family will stay as talks and dreams. It was and always will be, you for me. I know God put us in each other’s lives for a reason, and as much as I wish I had more time with you, I’m grateful for the years I did get and the memories we shared. Watch over me forever. Forever yours.”
In December, she posted about her pregnancy and wrote: “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. 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.”
