The Dallas Cowboys may have stumbled through a disappointing 2024 season, but a bit of mid-offseason news is giving fans a glimmer of hope ahead of the 2025 campaign. With quarterback Dak Prescott and linebacker Micah Parsons both sidelined for extended stretches last year, Dallas managed only seven wins and missed the playoffs. But on Wednesday, the Cowboys got a dose of positive momentum — thanks in large part to linebacker DeMarvion Overshown.
Overshown, who became a fan favorite before his rookie year was even halfway done, has officially been given the green light to wear No. 0 next season — making him the first player in Cowboys history to do so. The announcement, made by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, was met with excitement, especially considering Overshown’s popular “Agent 0” nickname. The new number isn’t just a cosmetic change. It’s symbolic of a fresh start after a devastating knee injury prematurely ended what had been a breakout season.
Even better, Schultz also reported that Overshown’s rehab is ahead of schedule. There’s growing optimism within the organization that he could return by midseason in 2025. That’s a huge boost for a Cowboys defense that leaned heavily on Overshown’s energy, versatility, and instincts before he went down.
In just 13 games last season, Overshown racked up 90 tackles, five sacks, eight tackles for loss, one interception, a forced fumble, and a defensive touchdown. The rookie was everywhere — flying to the ball, disrupting plays in the backfield, and showing the kind of awareness that made him a third-round steal.
For now, Dallas will turn to Notre Dame product Marist Liufau to fill Overshown’s role next to Kenneth Murray Jr. and Jack Sanborn. But once Overshown is fully healthy, expect him to return to a prominent role in Dan Quinn’s defense.
Meanwhile, Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith remains outspoken about the team’s lack of success in recent decades. Smith didn’t hold back during a recent interview, calling the Cowboys’ postseason drought “a crying shame.”
“For us not to be there over the last 30 years is a crying shame,” Smith said, noting how many teams cycle in and out of contention every decade. Smith, who won three Super Bowls in the 1990s, still believes the franchise carries a mystique and pressure that players need to embrace.
“When you draft somebody, they already have to know what’s expected,” Smith added. “There’s a long line of history they have to embrace… What can I do to leave my mark on the game?”
Dallas enters the 2025 NFL Draft with several holes to fill, but a healthy core of stars — including a returning Overshown — gives them a shot at turning things around. Whether the Cowboys finally deliver on their potential remains to be seen, but the pieces are there.
For “Agent 0,” the comeback is personal. And if his progress continues on this pace, he might just be one of the biggest difference-makers in the league by season’s end.
