The Green Bay Packers have benefited from just six holding penalties called on opponents this season, which is tied for the third-fewest in the entire league.
Micah Parsons Unleashes Epic Rant on NFL's One-Sided Officiating Standards
Micah Parsons Unleashes Epic Rant on NFL’s One-Sided Officiating Standards (Screenshto via X/@mattschneidman)
Those numbers tell a frustrating story for a team with one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushers. Micah Parsons just decided he’s done staying quiet about it.
Micah Parsons Unleashes Epic Rant on NFL’s One-Sided Officiating Standards
Parsons didn’t hold back during his Thursday press conference. The Packers defensive end torched the NFL’s officiating inconsistencies with brutal honesty.
“Five years of not getting a call, you eventually stop worrying about it,” Parsonssaid. He’s watched offensive linemen grab and hold while flags stay pocketed. The frustration has been building for years.
Micah Parsons sounds off on how he’s officiated and refs in general:
“Five years of not getting a call, you eventually stop worrying about it.”
“They don’t call offsides for offense, but they’ll call it on defense. They won’t call offensive pass interference, but they’ll call… pic.twitter.com/fieDTZpWl5
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 16, 2025
Parsons leads the NFL with 4.6 pressures per game. He racked up five pressures against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. Yet he didn’t record a single quarterback hit for the first time this season.
The numbers back up his complaints. Green Bay has played one fewer game than most teams after their bye week. Still, only six holding calls on opponents ranks shockingly low for a defense with this kind of pass rush talent.
But Parsons went deeper than just holding penalties. He called out the league’s double standard on player safety. A Bengals player poked him in the eye during the game, and he popped a blood vessel. No flag was thrown for illegal hands to the face.
“If you’re going to say it’s about protecting players, then protect all players,” Parsons fired back. He had to switch to a more protective face mask mid-game because of the injury.
Parsons pointed out the hypocrisy. Defensive players get fined $50,000 for leading with their helmets. Offensive guards can slam their heads into defenders while they’re engaged with tackles. Nothing happens.
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Parsons said that referees don’t usually call offsides or pass interference on the offense, but they do on the defense. He thinks the referees do this to help the game score more points so fans enjoy it more.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur plans to address the issue with officials before Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. He admitted some of the missed holds have been “egregious” and need to be called.
Parsons isn’t holding his breath for change. He said the refs are going to call what they call, and all the team can do is hope the game is fair.
Micah Parsons Also Roasted the Eagles’ Tush Push Strategy
Parsons didn’t stop at officiating complaints. He aimed at Philadelphia’s controversial tush push play too.
The Eagles ran the tush push four straight times against the New York Giants last week. Parsonsposted his frustration on social media immediately after. He knows the play works but clearly hates everything about it.
This is not football! 🚮🚮
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) October 10, 2025
“If you ask the Eagles’ offensive players, they’ll probably say, ‘That’s the best thing we’re doing on offense right now,'” Parsons admitted. Philadelphia has lost two straight games after starting the season 4-0. They’ve scored just 17 points in each of their last two losses.
The tush push might be their most consistent offensive weapon. But it hasn’t saved them from their current skid. Parsons acknowledged his comments could backfire when the Packers face the Eagles on November 10 at Lambeau Field.
He laughed and admitted that it “might come back and bite me one day,” which could happen soon when Philadelphia plays in Green Bay.
Parsons wrapped up his media session aware of potential consequences. He joked that the NFL might fine him for the press conference itself. But after five years of watching offensive linemen hold without consequences, he clearly decided speaking up was worth the risk.