It was DeMarcus Lawrence, then it was supposed to be Micah Parsons. Who is the Cowboys defensive leader heading into 2026?
The Dallas Cowboys' defense was a laughing stock of the NFL for most of the season under Matt Eberflus.
Yes, there was a three-game sugar hit, but for the most part, it was just awful viewing.
Such was the performance that fans were resting their hopes on the defense being transformed when DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel Jr. returned from their long injury layoff.
In truth, both were never going to be the player Dallas needed straight away. That would be unfair.
Revel didn't have a training camp, and for a rookie, that's problematic. Yet, he showed glimpses. As for Overshown, he returned and gave a little juice to the defense from his linebacker spot.
Was he on an All-Pro trajectory like the one we saw in 2024 before he got injured? No, but this season was all about getting reps to hit the offseason with and to hopefully explode in 2026.
With Dallas needing someone to take the leader mantle this season after Micah Parsons was traded, it was Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark who assumed that title.
Both were mid-season acquisitions, which tells you all you need to know.
But now, as we head towards the offseason, head coach Brian Schottenheimer is throwing another name into the ring -- Overshown.
“Another huge reason for Cowboy fans to be just really excited about the future is guys like D-Mo,” Schottenheimer said. “What this guy's had to go through coming back from these injuries has not slowed him down.
"The makeup is incredible. He's an unbelievable football player, but the leadership and the natural playmaking ability for a linebacker is something that is hard to find."
We know Overshown's talent, and yes, I can still remember his athletic pick-six against the New York Giants in 2024.
Overshown came on a blitz, burst through the Giants' running back in pass protection, before setting his eyes on Drew Lock.
No. 13 leapt into the air in an attempt to bat down Lock's pass, but he caught it instead and ran 23 yards for a touchdown.
DeMarvion had arrived.
But a week later, he suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL. He was ruled out for the rest of the season and didn't return until Week 11 of this past season.
Managing to play six games, starting five, Overshown wasn't the disruptive force we saw in 2024, but there were flashes.
"Just so proud of him to get back out there to do that," Schottenheimer added. "The sky's the limit for this guy and not just as a player but as a leader of this football team and this defense moving forward.”
Now set to have a full offseason after playing the final six games of the season, D-Mo has a running start ahead of 2026.
And as such, could emerge as one of Dallas' leaders as he looks to be a driving force in the Cowboys' comeback story.