The start of a new chapter commenced for Micah Parsons on Friday evening in Green Bay. Dressed in a yellow beanie reminiscent of his youth sports days with the Harrisburg Packers, the former Dallas Cowboys linebacker mentioned a potential Lambeau Leap and expressed his respect for the Packers and their community-owned heritage.
Parsons conveyed his contentment with transitioning from his previous situation, a contract negotiation with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who also serves as the team’s general manager.
Parsons shared that his back injury and contract impasse made the first part of 2025 difficult.
“The past four months have been the most challenging of my life,” Parsons admitted.
He added, “I haven’t been away from football for this long since seventh grade when I was overweight.”
Parsons explained that he missed a season due to a growth spurt and failing to meet weight requirements for middle school football.
[Create or join a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
The extended absence from the game as a four-time Pro Bowl player was difficult for Parsons.
He made sure his agent, David Mulugheta, understood his feelings during a call early Thursday afternoon.
“I told him, ‘You need to get me back on the field. I don’t like this waiting,'” Parsons recounted.
Within five hours, Mulugheta informed Parsons that a deal was near completion. Soon, Parsons was headed to Green Bay, with the Cowboys receiving two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark in return.
“I felt so relieved,” Parsons said to reporters in Green Bay on Friday.
‘Physically, I’m in good shape’
Although Parsons reported to Cowboys training camp in July, he hadn’t practiced this summer due to a back injury. However, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer stated that Parsons had been medically cleared to practice.
NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported that Parsons was seeking a second opinion on his back, despite a clean MRI earlier in the week.
Unsurprisingly, Parsons was questioned about his physical condition on Friday.
“Physically, I’m in good shape,” Parsons responded. “I believe I can contribute significantly. I’ll work with the doctors to create a plan to ease me back in comfortably.
“I plan to be here. They didn’t give up what they did for me to sit on the sidelines.”
Parsons also intends to wear No. 1 with the Packers. He previously wore No. 11 with the Cowboys, where he recorded 52.5 sacks, 256 tackles, 112 quarterback hits, and nine forced fumbles in 63 regular-season games.
The Pennsylvania native gained prominence at Penn State, where he also wore No. 11, earned All-American honors, and won the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year award, leading to his selection by the Cowboys as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 draft.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Parsons will be the first Packers player to wear No. 1 since Curly Lambeau, a Packers founder who played and coached for the team in the early 20th century.
A chance for a different kind of rematch
Parsons mentioned that he had no influence on his destination and felt fortunate to land in Green Bay.
“I was ready to play against them and seek revenge,” Parsons explained. “Now, I’m adding to their legacy and playing alongside these guys.”
The Packers eliminated the Cowboys from the playoffs in 2023. Parsons achieved a career-high 14 sacks and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. His 12-win Dallas team won the NFC East but lost to the Packers in the wild-card round, led by quarterback Jordan Love.
Earlier this year, Love jokingly tried to recruit Parsons to the Packers on Parsons’ podcast, “The Edge.” Parsons stated that he didn’t consider it a serious possibility because he never anticipated being traded.
Parsons is not only joining Love in Green Bay but also reuniting with his former Penn State teammate, Rasheed Walker. Walker, a seventh-round pick in the 2022 draft, is entering his third year as a Packers starter.
Parsons mentioned discussing the move with Walker, which provided him comfort.
“It feels like Penn State, like home. It’s a brotherhood, a safe environment,” Parsons said, referring to Walker’s insights. “We focus on football and do things the right way. It gave me comfort and helped me decide that this is where I can take the next step and build a great legacy.”
That legacy will be in the spotlight when he returns to Arlington to face the Cowboys on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 4. Parsons is aware of what’s ahead but is focusing on each game individually.
Expectations will be high for Micah Parsons with the Packers. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
(Cooper Neill via Getty Images)
“Dallas needs to prepare for Week 4,” Parsons said. “We have to do our part. There are no easy games. First, we have the Lions on Sunday, then the Commanders on Thursday night. These two games feature some of the NFL’s best offenses. Then we face Dallas, who also have an elite offense with receivers like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.”
“I need to focus on those games first. But when Week 4 arrives, we’ll be ready and will prepare as we have in previous weeks.”
Parsons is aware of the expectations
Parsons agreed to a four-year, $188 million contract with the Packers, with $136 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Parsons will earn an average of $47 million per year, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Jerry Jones believes Parsons’ trade value will be significant, comparing it to the Herschel Walker trade that paved the way for the Cowboys’ Super Bowl dynasty in the 1990s.
It’s a deal that will be continuously evaluated. Parsons is aware of comparisons to Reggie White, a Hall of Fame pass rusher who joined the Packers and helped them win a Super Bowl.
“I know there are high expectations and pressure,” Parsons acknowledged. “But that’s a blessing. It means the Packers believe in me.”
Parsons thanked Cowboys fans and said he’d miss his former teammates, especially Trevon Diggs.
He emphasized how much he missed playing football, comparing it to watching someone else play Xbox without being able to play yourself.
“I told Rasheed to get ready for his best practice week because I haven’t touched anyone in a while,” Parsons said, referring to his conversation with the Packers’ left tackle.
“I’m ready to get out there. It’s frustrating missing what you love.”
