The Dallas Cowboys are famous for making shocking moves, but trading star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just before the 2025 season might have been their biggest move yet. The decision backfired quickly, as the Cowboys’ defense struggled to pressure quarterbacks throughout the year, finishing near the bottom of the league in sacks. 

While owner Jerry Jones initially insisted the team would be better off without him, Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus recently admitted that losing an elite talent like Parsons completely changed the defense for the worse. 

This honest admission from the coach caught Parsons’ attention, and the former Cowboys star couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. 

What actually happened was that Micah Parsons left the Dallas Cowboys after a long and difficult argument over his contract. For two consecutive years, the two sides were unable to agree on a new deal, and the relationship deteriorated to the point where both sides were eager to part ways.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones defended the decision by pointing to the “haul” they got in return. By trading Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, Dallas received two first-round draft picks and veteran Pro Bowler Kenny Clark. Jones eventually used some of that draft capital in a separate deal to land star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. He also felt that the defense needed to improve at stopping the run in 2025, and he believed Parsons wasn’t the right player for that specific role.

However, the move has been a disaster for the Cowboys on the field. Even though they have the best offense in the league, their defense has completely fallen apart without their star. They are currently ranked 30th out of 32 teams and will miss the playoffs entirely.

Parsons recently spoke out to make sure fans understood why he isn’t upset about the Cowboys’ struggles. As he wrote on his social media handle, X;

“Y’all want me to feel bad? Jerry Jones slandered my name to Cowboys media and national media for months. So I do think I can react to comment if I want to! #respectfully”

The Dallas Cowboys’ defense has struggled significantly this season, largely because it has failed to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Currently, the team has recorded only 31 sacks, which is tied for the eighth-lowest total in the league. 

This decline is especially noticeable when compared to the 2024 season. Back then, the defense was one of the most feared in football, finishing with the third-most sacks in the entire league. A major part of that success was due to Parsons, who served as the anchor for the pass rush and made it difficult for any offense to find a rhythm.

 Without that same level of dominance at the line of scrimmage, the Cowboys have seen their defensive rankings plummet.

Parsons thrives at the Green Bay Packers

Micah Parsons has lived up to every expectation during his debut season with the Green Bay Packers, pressuring quarterbacks at a rate that rivals any player in the NFL. After joining the team in a blockbuster late-offseason trade, his production has been historic; he is currently tied for sixth in the league with 12.5 sacks.

“How I can get to six?” Parsons said. “That’s the mindset. Once you do six, how do you get to seven? How do we keep improving? How do I continue to get better? Understanding how teams are going to come out and attack me and how do I say, ‘It don’t matter.’ Parson said when asked about his mindset behind recorded sacks at the Packers.

This achievement makes him the first player in NFL history to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons, a feat that separates him from even the most legendary defensive icons since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

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However, the Packers will have to navigate their upcoming Super Bowl run without their defensive anchor. Parsons’ season came to an abrupt end on December 14 when he suffered a torn ACL during a game against the Denver Broncos. 

Though he has already undergone successful surgery, the injury will sideline him for quite some time. While the Packers have secured the seventh seed in the NFC and remain title contenders, the loss of Parsons is a significant blow to a defense that had become one of the most feared in the league with him on the field.

With a record of 9 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw The Packers will have to deliver one of their greatest performance against the Minnesota Vikings as both teams approach week 18.