In a move that should have happened the instant the NFL lifted its league-wide ban on any team jersey having just a “0” on it, DeMarvion Overshown is back as Agent 0.
When the NFL lifted the restriction, then safety Jayron Kearse was slated to wear the number but instead was issued a “1”, leaving fans to speculate. Would it go to the rookie Overshown instead?
As it turned out, no one got the number. In 2023 or 2024.
Jerry Jones insisted that no one would with the dubious excuse that it was reserved for the mascot, Rowdy, who actually wore “00” on his “jersey” when out and about.
It was quintessential Jones. Snub one of his own players for a mascot no one outside the front office really likes.
So Overshown went with 35 in his rookie year before switching to 13 last year.
But this year, when he returns from a knee injury suffered back in December, Overshown will have his number, serving as the first Cowboys player to wear it.
He was the first Texas Longhorns player to wear that number as well. It was there that Agent 0 was born.
After the news broke, Micah Parsons already started lobbying for a jersey swap over on Instagram.
Besides defending his new number from a hungry lion, Overshown has been working hard on getting back on the field in 2025.
A recent report has him on track for a mid-season return, possibly at the beginning of November. Given he is coming back from a second knee injury in as many seasons, that’s good news.
Taken in the third round of the 2023 draft, Overshown’s rookie season came to a brutal end in the preseason when Overshown tore his left ACL on a tackle against Seattle.
He worked his way back from that and had a breakout season in 2024.
Starting in 12 of the 13 games he appeared in, Overshown had 90 tackles, eight for a loss, five sacks and five quarterback hits. He forced a fumble in the Detroit loss.
But his big game of the year came on Thanksgiving Day against the Giants.
In addition to his nine tackles, Overshown recovered a fumble and returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown.
He was having another solid game 11 days later against the Bengals when disaster struck.
Bracing to take on a block, Overshown’s right leg was rolled up on by a Bengals’ player. This time tearing the ACL, MCL and PCL in his right knee.
Overshown would miss the last four games of the season.
During the offseason, he has been spotted around The Star and appears to be on track in his recovery.
Here’s hoping both of his knees are at 100% when he returns. And that he can stay healthy throughout the 2025 season.
Run Away, Rowdy
One last word on that mascot in Dallas.
First, it was just plain dumb to insist a mascot had a superior claim on any number over a player. Chalk it up to another dumb decision out of many made by this franchise.
Starting with a well-deserved “What were they thinking”” when they designed Rowdy in the first place.
This does not inspire an image of tough, gritty cowboys willing to do whatever it took to win.
This is a cosplay, weekend cowboy that line dances at a western-themed bar in New York City. One that would wilt in the Texas sun by eight in the morning.
Not a mascot for a winner.
But I will grant you that it is a perfect mascot for a team that has settled for mediocrity for nearly three decades.
The lone saving grace for Rowdy is that he isn’t the worst mascot in the league.
I mean, a goofy-looking wolf as a mascot for a team named “Chiefs”? How did you almost win three straight Super Bowls with that on your sidelines, Kansas City?
C’mon, man!