The hard work, dedication and commitment to returning from knee surgery is the reason DeMarvion Overshown was voted by his teammates as the annual winner for the 2024 Ed Block Courage Award.
Unfortunately for the young linebacker, he'll have to do all of that again next season as he now rehabs his other knee that was injured back on Dec. 9 against the Bengals.
But his initial recovery from an ACL injury he suffered in the 2023 preseason is the reason Overshown was voted for this annual NFL award, given to a player from each team has overcome adversity to return to the field.
"Can't say enough about him. Great to see him back here – going through the rehab," said head coach Mike McCarthy on Friday. "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.
Overshown, a third-round pick in 2023, was poised to have a breakout rookie season before he suffered the injury early in a preseason game in Seattle. Overshown, united with two other players – John Stephens and David Durden – who had similar injuries, tackled his rehab with full force.
By training camp of 2024, Overshown was ready for action and was not only able to play in the Week 1 game at Cleveland, but made a sack on DeShaun Watson that proved he was back to the ball-chasing player that made him an outstanding player at Texas.
Overshown continued that progress throughout most of the 2024 season, recording five sacks and also had a dynamic interception return for a touchdown on Thanksgiving against the Giants.
But two weeks later, he suffered yet another knee injury, this time to his right knee.
While Overshown is not a candidate to win the Ed Block Courage Award next year because players are only eligible once, there's no doubt he will have the same intensity in his rehab to be back stronger than ever.
The Ed Block Courage Award was created in 1984, and named after former athletic trainer of the Baltimore Colts from 1954-77. Block was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Hall of Fame in 1974.
Ed Block was a hero in many ways. Under General Patton in World War II, he earned a Purple Heart. As an athletic trainer, he was a master in his chosen field. As a person, he was compassionate and giving.
Ed was the Head Athletic Trainer of the Baltimore Colts from 1954-1977. In 1954, he was asked to join the team by famed head coach, Weeb Ewbank, and cared for the legendary players of the Colts' glory years of the 50s, 60s and 70s. He was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Hall of Fame in 1974.
Last 10 Cowboys winners:
- 2024 – DeMarvion Overshown
- 2023 – Jourdan Lewis
- 2022 – Michael Gallup
- 2021 – Dak Prescott
- 2020 – Leighton Vander Esch
- 2019 – Travis Frederick
- 2018 – Zack Martin
- 2017 – Jaylon Smith
- 2016 – Terrell McClain
- 2015 – Sean Lee
