The Ed Block Courage Award is given by each of the NFL’s 32 teams to one of its players who has overcome great adversity in making a return to the field of play.
This year’s winner for the Cowboys suffered a serious knee injury that cost him his entire 2023 rookie campaign, only to become one of the team’s statistical leaders and most electrifying talents in just his second pro season.
But by the time DeMarvion Overshown was honored by his club for that comeback late this week, he was already on the road to recovery from another devastating injury.
A triple-tear of the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee, sustained in the Cowboys’ Week 14 loss to Cincinnati, put Overshown on season-ending injured reserve for the second time in 16 months.
But before that happened, Overshown put on quite an award-winning performance, even if its start was delayed.
The third-round draft pick out of Texas tore the ACL in his left knee during the 2023 preseason, ending his promising rookie season before it really got underway. Finally making his regular-season debut in Week 1 of 2024, Overshown made his presence felt immediately, logging a sack and leading the defense in tackles in a 33-17 win.
The linebacker continued that torrid pace and often looked to be the most dominant Dallas defender on the field, helping to make up for week-to-week absences from the likes of Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland, and Eric Kendricks.
But then Overshown had his leg rolled up on by Bengals center Ted Karras during the fourth quarter of the team’s Dec. 9 game. He needed help leaving the field and was quickly ruled out of the remainder of the contest.
Tests would soon determine the severity of this most recent injury (thankfully in the other knee), but Overshown himself was already vowing to make yet another comeback and has started the rehab process again.
“Can’t say enough about him. Great to see him back here, going through the rehab,” said Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy on Friday, per the team website. “Thinking about the injury he went through last year and all the work he did to get ready for this year, he was an impact player for us. He was getting better each week. He has an excellent personality. We’ve definitely missed him since the injury, but it’s great to have him back in town for the rehab process.”
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Even if he does come back better than before as promised, Overshown will not be eligible to win the 2025 Ed Block Courage Award; players are eligible to receive the honor just once.
The award is named for the former Baltimore Colts athletic trainer who served that team from 1954 to 1977 and was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Hall of Fame in 1974.
In winning the 2024 award, Overshown joins Jourdan Lewis, Michael Gallup, Dak Prescott, Leighton Vander Esch, and Travis Frederick as the Cowboys’ most recent recipients.
Despite playing in just 13 games this season, Overshown still ranks second on the team in solo tackles, combined tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks with the season finale yet to be played.
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