Dallas Who? Micah Parsons is Green Bay's New Main Character

Defensive End Micah Parsons traded to the Green Bay Packers. Green Bay

Call it a breakup, call it a rebound. The Packers taking Micah Parsons from Dallas just before the season kicks off feels like Taylor Swift trading years of heartbreak for a headline-making romance with Travis Kelce. For Cowboys fans, the heartbreak is only amplified by the city’s recent sports-related misfortunes, including NBA star Luka Dončić’s departure from the Mavericks to the Lakers, sparking talk of a city-wide bad-luck spell.

Micah Parsons and Luka Dončić in their previous Dallas team jerseys. Marca

Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the most dominant edge defenders in the league, agreed to a four-year, $188 million contract with Green Bay, including $120 million fully guaranteed. That makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history at $47 million per year — a full $6 million more than the next top defender, T.J. Watt.

In return for Parsons, Dallas landed defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks (2026 and 2027) from Green Bay. During a Cowboys press conference, team owner Jerry Jones called it a “deliberate move” to make the team better in the playoffs, especially stopping the run. Parsons, meanwhile, shared a heartfelt goodbye on social media: “I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control. My heart has always been here, and it still is.”

Micah Parsons speaking in his first Packers press conference. The Guardian

Parsons has been a superstar since being drafted to the Cowboys four seasons ago. He has racked up 52.5 sacks, made the Pro Bowl every year, and joined NFL legend Reggie White in being the only players to record at least 12 sacks in their first four years. However, a messy contract extension negotiation finally ended his time in Dallas.

For Green Bay, Parsons is the answer to a huge problem: their pass rush. No Packers player has hit double-digit sacks since 2020, and their top edge defenders weren’t exactly striking fear into quarterbacks. Now, Parsons becomes the centerpiece of a defense that desperately needed a star.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are left scrambling. Their remaining pass rushers have only a combined 73 career sacks! Filling Parsons’ shoes won’t be easy, even with Kenny Clark and future draft picks.

For Dallas fans, this loss hits hard. Many feel blindsided, devastated, and heartbroken seeing one of the team’s brightest stars leave, adding to a string of recent disappointments. Some are going so far as to say they want to boycott the team and owner Jerry Jones. Between Parsons and Dončić, the city’s sports community is left wondering when the heartbreak will end. 

No matter what, though, all eyes will be on Week 4 when Parsons returns to Dallas with the Packers for an emotional, can’t-miss showdown that could define the 2025 NFL season for both teams.

Edited by: Megan Livengood