Some milestones in an NFL player’s career come on the field. Others can come in a more personal way, like finally wearing the number they have always wanted. For Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, his jersey number change this offseason carried more meaning than some might expect.
Inside the Story Behind DeMarvion Overshown’s Historic No. 0 Dallas Cowboys Jersey Reveal
Overshown, a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, is now the first player in Cowboys history to wear No. 0. The NFL only began allowing the use of No. 0 in 2023, and Overshown had been eyeing it ever since.
After wearing No. 13 in his first two seasons in Dallas, the chance to switch back to the number he wore at Texas became a reality this spring. And for Overshown, it was about more than just aesthetics — it was about pride, respect, and earning something special.
“I’m definitely living my dream. It’s something that I’ve been wanting since I got here,” Overshown said during his May 29 press conference. “So it’s like getting it. It’s like a sigh [of relief]. But it’s the way that I went about getting it. I think I was kind of a little too greedy coming in, just expecting it.
“But the way I went about it, earning it, I think I gained a lot of respect around the building — not going around pouting that I didn’t have my favorite number. But the fact that I get to wear it, it’s a badge of honor, so I’m looking forward to shining in it.”
Jersey numbers can carry deep personal significance for players, often tied to a memory, superstition, or college legacy. For Overshown, No. 0 was all of those things. When the NFL relaxed its number rules, Overshown immediately had his eye on the switch. But rather than demand it, he waited for the right opportunity — and a bit of help from a friend.
As Overshown explained, after last year’s Thanksgiving game, he was invited by Paxton Anderson, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ grandson and Overshown’s former Texas teammate, to visit the team’s jersey print shop. Overshown was tempted to go ahead and print a No. 13 jersey but hesitated, still holding out hope for No. 0.
“I gave Paxton a call. ‘Man, can you please put in the word? Let me know. Just let me know. You ain’t gotta ask for the number — just let me know if I’m gonna be able to get it,’” Overshown recalled. “And he said, ‘You know what, let me give my mom a call. Give me one second.’”
By December, the switch was approved, though Overshown and the Cowboys kept the news quiet until the big jersey reveal went down last month.
This spring, as Overshown works his way back from the knee injury that ended his 2024 season early, the new number symbolizes a fresh start. Before the injury, he had posted 90 tackles, five sacks and a pick-six, flashing the playmaking ability Dallas hopes to see again this fall.
Now, as he takes the field in No. 0, Overshown knows he’s wearing more than just a number — he’s carrying a piece of his story with him.