Thetragic death of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has the NFL in an emotional state. Green Bay Packers superstar defensive end Micah Parsons is just one of the many who have been impacted hard by the shocking news of Kneeland’s passing, reportedly due to a self-inflicted gunshot following a car chase involving the police.
As Parsons and the Packers prepare for a Week 10 battle against the Philadelphia Eagles this coming Monday, the former Cowboys pass rusher offered a profound reflection on what a player like him goes through amid such devastating news and while also preparing to do his job as a professional football player.
Parsons speaks up on impact of Kneeland’s passing ahead of Packers-Eagles
Nov 6, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; The Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks observe a moment of silence to honor the memory of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland before their game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Although he’s no longer with the Cowboys, and even if he only played a season together with Kneeland, Parsons shared a passionate take that gives everyone outside of football a reminder that football players have emotions, too.
In this career, how people look at it, you always got to be second like this is a football first, everything else later job, and that’s what the fans expect you to be ready, your coaches expect you to be ready even, your teammates expect you to be ready, but in reality to say that we’re emotionless and we don’t have feelings, and you know, you got to put things to the side all the time is just not realistic, Parsons said (viaDominique Yates of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
Continued Parsons: “I have to find a way to embrace my emotions, embrace everything that I’m feeling for his family my former teammates. I got former teammates that are devastated. They can’t comprehend it, losing teammates like a brother. People don’t realize how much we’re actually together, like time spent.
So that’s the challenges, like you, we’re putting away a brother like regardless like this NFL is a brotherhood, so it doesn’t matter who it is like if you’re breaking sweat breaking blood with someone, whether it’s the on the opposite team or on the same team, it’s a brotherhood. Trying to put that inside is challenging, but like I said, we got to find it because there’s an expectation comes Monday night.”
Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) embrace after the tie game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
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