The Green Bay Packers will kick off their 2025 NFL season with a Week One matchup against the back-to-back NFC North Champions, the Detroit Lions, on Sunday afternoon. As is the case every year, fans are highly anticipating the return of regular season football in Green Bay, and the buzz around the Packers is palpable.
But this year, of course, has a different sort of buzz, one on a high level as has not been experienced in the NFL’s smallest market for quite some time. Obviously, this is due to the recent trade acquisition and contract extension of three-time All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who was traded to the Packers by the Dallas Cowboys for two first round picks and three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
The divorce between Parsons and Dallas has been well-documented, and none are happier to have seen it go down than Packers fans. However, a recent report reveals that Green Bay was not the only team on his radar, but that they were also his most realistic landing spot.
Micah Parsons wanted to be traded to the Green Bay Packers or Philadelphia Eagles
Green Bay Packers defensive linemen Karl Brooks (94) and Micah Parsons (1) run through a drill during practice on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Clarke Hinkle Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Many were surprised that it was Green Bay, the NFL’s smallest market, was the team that won the Parsons sweepstakes. Of course, Dallas waited far too long to trade the four-time Pro Bowler, which limited the number of teams that could have gotten a deal done.
In fact, Dianna Russini of The Athletic recently revealed that there were only two teams, the Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, that were on Parsons’ radar. And since Dallas would never have traded him to their division rival, Green Bay was really the only realistic choice:
“As the relationship deteriorated, Parsons had two teams on his mind: the Packers and the Eagles.
“Green Bay appealed for its small-town feel, a reminder of his Penn State days in State College. Philadelphia was the other obvious fit, because it’s close to his Harrisburg home. But Dallas wasn’t about to keep him inside the NFC East, even for a better offer (the Eagles have tons of draft ammunition).”
As one can see, Parsons was attracted to the Packers because they are a small market, which reminded him of his college days at Penn State.
Over the past week, ever since the trade, there have been many comparisons made between Parsons and Reggie White, who signed with the Packers as a free agent in 1993. As fans will tell you, his decision to sign with Green Bay was a game-changer for the franchise, and not just because of the effect he had on the field.
Prior to this, many viewed playing for the Packers as a punishment, and Green Bay as the place where careers went to die. They had not won anything of significance in decades at point, but White choosing to come there changed the narrative.
And while the Packers have not had any trouble luring big-name players since, they rarely spend the money to make it happen. But last season’s signings of Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney, and this trade for Parsons, indicate that times certainly have changed, and that Green Bay will [hopefully] be serious contenders in the NFC for years to come.
For more Great Wisconsin Sports content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!