The Bills Young Star Dorian Williams Moves Everyone by Promising to Protect Marshawn Kneeland's Child: “I Cannot Bring Him Back, But I Will Take His Place to Love This Child”

Buffalo, New York – 11/13/2025

The NFL community once again witnesses the power of friendship and humanity, when Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams spoke up about the deeply humane decision for his childhood friend, Marshawn Kneeland – the Cowboys player who tragically passed away earlier this season. Growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, just a few miles apart, Williams and Kneeland were once two boys playing football on local fields, dreaming together of the NFL. The news of Kneeland's death left Williams devastated for many days.

Heartbreaking: Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer revealed today that Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend, Catalina, is pregnant and the team has started a Fund to ensure that both she and the baby are taken care of.

Praying for her and their family 💔🙏 pic.twitter.com/morzYpXdW8

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 12, 2025

This morning, when the Cowboys confirmed that Kneeland's girlfriend, Catalina, is pregnant with their first child, Williams immediately contacted the Kneeland family. The pain of losing his friend became even deeper when he learned that Kneeland had cherished the dream of becoming a father. In the Bills locker room, Williams fell silent upon hearing this. For him, this was not just losing an NFL colleague – but losing a brother who grew up with him in West Michigan full of memories.

Williams shared that he thought long and hard about doing what Kneeland would want if he were still alive: helping to protect his late friend's family. Those close to the Bills say Williams sat for hours with the coaches and organization to find ways to support Catalina and the child in the future. “I cannot bring Marshawn back,” Williams said, his voice choking. “But I can ensure that his child will grow up in protection, love and pride that Marshawn always wanted to give to his child. The boy will know his father was a kind, strong and dream-filled man. And I will be there to remind him that Marshawn's legacy has never been lost.”

Not stopping at the promise, Williams has offered to be the godfather to the child and is ready to contribute to support Catalina throughout her pregnancy and the child's early years. Bills teammates, including Josh Allen and Matt Milano, expressed their appreciation for this action and said they will stand with Williams behind the Kneeland family. The Bills locker room held a minute of silence to remember Kneeland upon learning of the child's impending birth.

Catalina, through a statement from the family, sent deep thanks to Dorian Williams. She said that Kneeland always saw Williams as family. As Williams shared: “When a friend passes away, the only thing we can do is keep the promise for them. Marshawn's child will grow up knowing who his father was – and knowing how much love his father left behind.” In a league as competitive as the NFL, stories like this remind us that humanity is always stronger than any on-field collision.