Micah Parsons hasn’t even suited up for a regular-season snap with the Green Bay Packers, and already, he’s taking shots at the Detroit Lions.
The All-Pro pass rusher, acquired in a blockbuster trade just 10 days ago, was asked Thursday about making his Packers debut in a rivalry game against Detroit. His answer? Straight heat.
“I’m excited to play them,” Parsons said as quoted by the Detroit Free Press. “I never liked Detroit. I never liked them, even when I was in Dallas.”
Micah Parsons Detroit Lions
A New Rival, Same Old Detroit Hate
For Lions fans, this is nothing new. Detroit has gone from a punchline to one of the NFL’s heavyweights under Dan Campbell, and with that rise comes some jealousy, and plenty of bulletin board material.
Parsons explained that his dislike for Detroit stemmed from his time in Dallas, where the Cowboys and Lions squared off three years in a row.
“It was just always a heavyweight fight every time they came in,” Parsons said. “They kinda got our guys when I was injured last year – the whole team was injured.”
That “fight” turned into a knockout blow the last time the two sides met. Detroit throttled the Cowboys 47-9 in Week 6 of 2024. Jared Goff was untouchable that day, completing 18 of 25 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns.
Detroit’s Response? Handle Business
From a Detroit perspective, Parsons’ comments are more entertaining than threatening. The Lions have won six of their last seven games against the Packers, and if Parsons wants to dive into this NFC North rivalry with bad blood, Campbell’s crew will gladly oblige.
Parsons may not “like” Detroit, but if Week 1 goes the way recent history suggests, he’ll have no choice but to respect them.