In a social media post, Jalyx Hunt revealed that he will honor his friend Marshawn Kneeland by wearing custom cleats in the Eagles’ game against the Cowboys.
DALLAS — The Eagles and Cowboys may be rivals, but they are coming together Sunday to honor the life of deceased Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
Jalyx Hunt, an outside linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles and Kneeland’s friend, will wear cleats honoring Kneeland in his game against the Cowboys, according to a social media post from the Eagles. When entering AT&T Stadium on Sunday, Hunt was also wearing a shirt that reads “check on your friends.”
The tribute is part of the My Cause My Cleats, a player-led initiative that allows NFL players to wear custom cleats to raise awareness for a charitable cause.
Kneeland was found dead at 24 of a “self-inflicted gunshot wound” following a pursuit and crash in Frisco this month, WFAA previously reported.
Hunt and Kneeland met while going through the pre-draft process together, Hunt said in the post. After forming a friendship, they called each other to celebrate their big career milestones, like their first sack and Hunt’s Super Bowl win, he said.
“Being able to wear him on my cleats at the game just really means a lot its like a full circle moment, and I hate that it has to be like that because he wanted the Kelly Green jersey and this would have been the perfect week to do it,” Hunt said.
Hunt’s cleats include an image of a smiling Kneeland, his name and the National Suicide Hotline, which he urges people in crisis to call.
“Being strong does not mean you gotta be silent. Please talk to somebody, so that we don’t lose a great soul, another great person,” Hunt said.
Over 1,100 NFL players are participating in My Cause My Cleats this year.
If you or anyone you know is in need of help, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-TALK (8255). You can also text the lifeline at 741741 or chat online here.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.