Brian Schottenheimer Sees Different DeMarvion Overshown Entering 2026

FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday that DeMarvion Overshown attacked a new playbook this offseason and is practicing differently than he has before.

Overshown is learning his fourth defensive system in four seasons in Dallas, and Schottenheimer connected the change in his practice habits to how the linebacker feels physically.

“I mean, you know, number one, I’m so happy for him. I’m proud of him, the way he’s worked and how hard he’s, you know, attacked learning this playbook, another system,” Schottenheimer said. “You know, I think we’ve talked about that a lot, so I won’t dive into it. But these players that have been here for a couple years, all the different systems they’ve been through, from DQ to Zim to Flos to Christian. But he’s really attacked this one, and he’s practicing with a different intent. I think it’s probably because he feels good and really excited to see him run around and hit people.”

Overshown is listed as a starting inside linebacker on the Week 1 depth chart alongside Dee Winters, whom Dallas acquired from the San Francisco 49ers early on the second day of the 2026 draft.

DeMarvion Overshown Through Four Defensive Coordinators

Dallas took Overshown in the third round in 2023, 90th overall, out of Texas. He played safety before the Longhorns moved him to inside linebacker ahead of his junior season, and he was a first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2022.

Dan Quinn was the Cowboys defensive coordinator when Overshown arrived. Mike Zimmer followed in 2024, Matt Eberflus in 2025, and Christian Parker this year. Overshown wears No. 0, the first Cowboys player to do so.

He tore an ACL in the second preseason game of his rookie year and missed all of 2023. In 2024 he put up 90 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 4 passes defensed, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and an interception returned for a touchdown across 13 games. He was the second-leading tackler on the team and became the third Cowboys player since 1982 to record at least 5 sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble in the same season, joining DeMarcus Ware in 2006 and Greg Ellis in 1999.

DeMarvion Overshown’s Knee And His 2025 Return

Overshown tore the ACL, MCL, and PCL in his right knee in the Dec. 9, 2024, loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and had surgery that week. He missed the first nine games of last season, then returned on Monday night at the Las Vegas Raiders in a 33-16 win and played 29 snaps.

He appeared in six games and finished with 28 tackles on 218 defensive snaps. A concussion in the Week 16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers put him in the league protocol and ended his season. Overshown has missed 32 games across three seasons.

Schottenheimer said on Jan. 1 that he hoped for a big jump from Overshown in 2026 and pointed to a full offseason as the difference. Dallas has not added a veteran to the linebacker room in free agency this year.

The Cowboys allowed 511 points last season, the most in the league, and ranked 23rd against the run. Dallas opens Sunday at the New York Giants at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC.