The Dallas Cowboys’ contract standoff with pass-rusher Micah Parsons has ended. The Cowboys are trading the four-time Pro Bowler to the Green Bay Packers six days before Dallas’ first game of the 2025 season.
In exchange for Parsons, the Cowboys will get two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, NFL Network and ESPN reported on Thursday. As part of the deal, Parsons will sign a four-year, $188 million contract with Green Bay that carries the highest per-season payday for a non-quarterback in NFL history.
After recording 52.5 sacks, 63 tackles for loss, 112 quarterback hits and nine forced fumbles in 63 regular-season games with the Cowboys, Parsons has been seeking a long-term contract extension with Dallas throughout the offseason that became a day-by-day media presence with that all-star and Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones.
Parsons is one of three defensive players who have been selected for the Pro Bowl in each of their first four seasons, joining Aaron Donald and Patrick Peterson.
Clark is a three-time Pro Bowl selection in his nine NFL seasons.
Parsons said goodbye to Cowboys fans on social media.
“Growing up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I was one of the few kids in my neighborhood who cheered for the Dallas Cowboys,” Parsons wrote. “Nearly everyone around supported the Eagles, but I always believed in the star. To wear the blue and white at Penn State and then carry those same colors into the NFL as a Cowboy, it was more than a dream, it was destiny.
“From the moment I arrived in Dallas, you embraced me and my family as your own. You made a kid from the east coast feel right at home in Texas. Every time I pulled up to work, every time I stepped onto that field, I felt the weight and pride of representing you. You didn’t just give me a jersey, you gave me a place to belong.
“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control. My heart has always been here, and it still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never asked for anything more than fairness. I only asked that the person I trust to negotiate my contract be part of the process.
“This is a sad day, but not a bitter one. I’ll never forget the joy of draft night, the adrenaline of running out of the tunnel, or the brotherhood I shared with my teammates, coaches and the staff who prepared me for every single game. Those memories are mine forever.
“North Texas will continue to be my home in the offseason. I’ll still be here, giving back to the community that gave me so much. And no matter where the next chapter takes me, the bond we’ve built will never break.
“Thank you, Cowboys Nation, for every cheer, every moment, and every ounce of love you showed me. Wearing the star has been the honor of my life.”
The Cowboys kick off their 2025 campaign against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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