After Marshawn Kneeland Tragedy, Bills Owner Terry Pegula Plans to Establish “Mental Performance Lab” – Initiative to Protect Players' Mental Health

November 8, 2025

Buffalo, New York – The heartbreaking death of Marshawn Kneeland, the 24-year-old defensive star of the Dallas Cowboys, continues to leave a large aftershock in the entire NFL. According to conclusions of Frisco police and psychological experts, the indirect cause leading to the tragedy is mental crisis and prolonged depression. The incident has made the professional sports world look back at how teams are caring – or more accurately not caring enough – for the mental health of the people standing behind helmets and shoulder pads.

In that wave of calls for change, Buffalo Bills owner – Terry Pegula is said to be planning to implement a breakthrough initiative: establishing “Mental Performance Lab” right at the team’s headquarters. This is seen as a pioneering project in the AFC East, focusing on caring for and strengthening mental power for players – an aspect often overlooked in the harsh competitive environment of the NFL.

According to plans, this center will include private counseling rooms, meditation areas and a full-time team of therapists, helping players have a quiet space to recover after competition pressure. Each player will undergo psychological check-ups twice per season, at the beginning and middle of the season, while being assigned a separate “mental coach” for each position, like a physical trainer – the person who monitors, supports and accompanies them throughout the journey.

“Physical fitness helps you play well one game, but spirit is what helps you stand firm the entire career,” Terry Pegula shared, voice lowering in the interview. “You can train speed, tactics or strength – but you cannot demand a hurting heart to continue fighting if it has not been healed. I want Buffalo Bills to become the place where every player feels understood, cared for, and knows that they never have to bear the burden alone. That is the true meaning of ‘Bills Family.’”

Though “Mental Performance Lab” is still in the proposal stage and has not been officially announced, experts evaluate this as an inspiring step. If this initiative is implemented, Buffalo Bills could become the pioneering team bringing psychological care into the structure of modern sports training – a powerful message that, in the world of strength and collision, understanding and compassion are the true foundation that keeps the spirit of the game firm.