Micah Parsons Mike Tomlin
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin delivered a short message on Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons before Week 8.
Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers avoided having to block Micah Parsons when they hosted the Dallas Cowboys last season. Parsons missed the game because of an ankle injury.
But Parsons will be on the field at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday night when his new team, the Green Bay Packers, visit the Steelers.
This week, Tomlin received a question about whether Parsons was in the same tier of edge rushers as T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett. Tomlin had a simple response to answer yes.
“Most certainly,” Tomlin said Tuesday while smiling. “I think his paycheck indicates so.”
After acquiring Parsons late this offseason, the Packers signed the edge rusher to a four-year, $186 million deal. Parsons’ new contract pays him an average annual salary of $46.5 million.
Micah Parsons Earning More Per Year Than T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett
With the Packers signing their new edge rusher to a mammoth extension, Parsons, Watt and Garrett all received new deals before the 2025 season.
Garrett renewed his deal first, agreeing to a four-year, $160 million extension. The Cleveland Browns defensive end became the first defensive player with an average annual salary of at least $40 million.
Watt surpassed that with the total amount of new money included in his contract. The Steelers inked their All-Pro edge rusher to a three-year, $123 million extension. That will give Watt an average annual salary of $41 million.
But Parsons’ deal blew both out of the water with his $46.5 million average annual salary.
Parsons is making a significant impact for the Packers defense this season. In his first six games with Green Bay, he has posted 5.5 sacks with five tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits.