Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons put on a historic display of pass-rushing brilliance on Thanksgiving Day. In the Packers’ 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, Parsons finished with 2.5 sacks, eight tackles, four quarterback hits, and 10 total pressures, helping his new team improve to 8-3-1.
Parsons’ 2.5 sacks against Detroit quarterback Jared Goff brought his 2025 season total to 12.5, making him the first player in NFL history to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons. He achieved the feat after compiling 13 sacks in 2021, 13.5 in 2022, 14 in 2023, and 12 in 2024 while with the Dallas Cowboys, earning four Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro First Team honors along the way. Entering this season, Parsons was tied with Hall of Famer Reggie White as one of the only players to reach double-digit sacks in each of their first five NFL campaigns.
The 26-year-old praised his teammates for his success after the game, saying:
“It's really a shout to my teammates, every person I play with, they're a testament to all. You can't do it by yourself. I just think it's a little bit of everything. But honestly, man, I'm just so thankful and blessed to be a part of history and my own self and, obviously, doing it with the Green Bay Packers, someone that has such a rich history.”
When asked about becoming the first NFL player with 12 or more sacks in each of his first five seasons, Parsons responded without hesitation.
“How can we get to six? That's the mindset,” he said. “And then it's like, once you do six, how do you get to seven? How do I keep improving? How do I continue to get better?”
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What went through Micah Parsons’ mind when learning he’s the first player in NFL history to open his career with at least a dozen sacks in 5 straight seasons?
“How can we get to six? That’s the mindset.”
The man’s motor isn’t just on the field. It’s in the record books. pic.twitter.com/VdcolcOfbn
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) November 27, 2025
Parsons was a force throughout Thursday's matchup. He pressured Goff on 38.5% of his pass-rushing snaps, the highest rate of his career since his rookie season. Among his most impactful plays were a third-and-15 sack early in the game, a tackle for loss on fourth-and-2 in the third quarter, and two sacks on the Lions' final drive, limiting them to a field goal. Parsons has now totaled 8.5 sacks and 41 pressures in five Thanksgiving Day games, tying the NFL record for most sacks on the holiday, according to Next Gen Stats.
Green Bay acquired Parsons from Dallas before the start of the 2025 season, trading two first-round picks and defensive lineman Kenny Clark, then locking him into a four-year, $188 million contract, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. Parsons has justified the investment, amassing 10 sacks over the Packers’ last seven games and playing a crucial role in a defense that ranks fourth in the NFL in total yards and points allowed. Green Bay’s front seven has generated 32 total sacks this season, with Parsons’ 12.5 sacks accounting for a significant share.
When pushing downfield, the Packers received strong support from quarterback Jordan Love, who tied Brett Favre’s franchise record with four passing touchdowns on Thanksgiving, and receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson, who combined for three touchdowns and over 170 receiving yards. Green Bay swept Detroit for the first time since 2020.
While Parsons celebrated the milestone quietly, he also extended well-wishes to teammate Devonte Wyatt, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury during the game. Heading into the last five games of the season, Parsons is on track for a career-high 17.5 sacks, and his ferocious ambition suggests that the record-breaking streak may just be the beginning.