Micah Parsons traded to the Green
Bay Packers from the Cowboys after contract dispute
[August 29, 2025]
By ROB MAADDI
Micah Parsons is headed to the Green Bay Packers after a blockbuster
trade on Thursday, leaving the Dallas Cowboys following a lengthy
contract dispute.
The Packers gave up first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 along with
three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark to get the two-time
All-Pro edge rusher, who agreed to a contract extension with Green
Bay.
A person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press the
Packers are giving Parsons a record-setting $188 million, four-year
contract that includes $136 million guaranteed. Cowboys owner Jerry
Jones said he offered Parsons more guaranteed money. The person, who
spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the terms weren't
announced, said that wasn't accurate.
Parsons becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my
control,” Parsons wrote in a statement he posted on X. “My heart has
always been here, and still is. Through it all, I never made any
demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked
that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the
process.”
Jones declined to discuss Parsons' deal with agent David Mulugheta,
who represents Parsons along with Andre Odom for Athletes First.
Instead, Jones spoke directly to Parsons and insisted they had
agreed on the parameters of a new contract.
“I really like Micah. ... He's a great player," Jones said. "There's
no question I could've signed him in April. We all know to have
agreements, all parties have to agree. I did make Micah an offer. It
wasn't acceptable and I honor the fact that it wasn't done the way
he wanted to do it through an agent. There's not an ounce of
vindictiveness. There's no bad feelings on my part.”
Jones, who is also the team's general manager, insisted he made a
deal that helps the team win now, citing the need to improve the run
defense.
“We did think it was in the best interest of our organization not
only for the future but for this season as well,” Jones said. “We
gained a Pro Bowl player in an area we had big concerns in, on the
inside of our defense.”
With Parsons, the Cowboys were 29th against the run last season and
never higher than 16th. Dallas was 1-3 in the playoffs with Parsons,
who had one sack in those four games — the last one on Tom Brady.
“This gives us a better chance to be a better team than we have been
the last several years since Micah has been here," Jones said. "Not
any negative on Micah, but we’re trying to get better, to stop the
run and stay in the hunt.”
The Packers and Cowboys face off in Week 4 in Dallas.
The 26-year-old Parsons has 52 1/2 sacks, recording at least 12 in
each of his four seasons while making the Pro Bowl each year.
Parsons provides a huge boost for a franchise that has reached the
playoffs five of the past six years but hasn’t made it to the NFL
championship game since Aaron Rodgers led them to their fourth Super
Bowl title 15 years ago.
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Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons walks on the sideline
during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the
Atlanta Falcons Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP
Photo/Gareth Patterson)
Parsons bolsters a defense that was inconsistent at
getting to opposing quarterbacks last season, when the Packers went
11-7 and lost to Philadelphia in the NFC wild-card round. The
Packers had 45 sacks last season to tie for eighth place in the NFL,
but more than half of those sacks came in just four games.
In seven of their 17 games, the Packers had no more
than one sack.
Green Bay ranked 16th in pressure rate, which calculates the number
of hurries, knockdowns and sacks for each team divided by an
opponent’s drop-back attempts.
Now, the Packers add one of the game’s elite pass rushers while the
Cowboys lose their best player because of a power struggle with
Jones.
Even with Parsons, who missed four games because of injury last
season, Dallas finished 28th in defense and the team went 7-10. The
Cowboys have a healthy Dak Prescott returning but this is a
devastating blow for the defense.
The Packers haven’t had anyone get 12 sacks in a season since
Za’Darius Smith had 12˝ in 2020.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke Wednesday about the
philosophy of taking a “big swing” to land a superstar.
“I think every opportunity that’s out there to help your football
team, we’ve always taken a look at try to see how it affects us
right now, how does it affect us in the future and make the best
decision we can,” Gutekunst said. “Sometimes we’ve been right,
sometimes we’re wrong. Sometimes we’ve taken risks that really
worked out for us. Sometimes it didn’t.
“Sometimes we didn’t take risks, and we look back and wish we would
have and sometimes, you know, as (former general manager) Ted
(Thompson) used to say, you know, God helps those that can’t help
themselves a little bit sometimes. So sometimes the best deals you
make are the ones you don’t, you know. And so you just kind of, I
think you weigh everything, and you weigh what is in the moment and
what is in the future as well.”
The Packers, who once signed Reggie White in free agency, just took
their biggest swing in decades. White helped a Green Bay team led by
Brett Favre win a Super Bowl and reach another on his way to the Pro
Football Hall of Fame.
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AP Sports Writers Steve Megargee and Schuyler Dixon contributed.
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