Micah Parsons has had enough of what he calls “biased officiating” across the league. After the recent win against the Bengals on October 12, the defensive end sounded off about how NFL refs cater to the offense, often at the defense’s expense. The outburst lit up Green Bay. And now he’s not alone. One of his teammates has stepped up to back him.

Packers’ safety Xavier McKinney, who’s seen his share of battles in the trenches, made it clear where he stands. When asked if he’s ever seen a pass rusher held as much as Parsons, McKinney didn’t hesitate. “No,” he said.

“I ain’t seen the guy get chipped as much either. I think he like, I don’t know what the stats are on that, but since we’ve got him, that’s all we’ve been getting is a whole bunch of chippers. Just trying to get our edge rushers slowed down a little-bit, give them a little bit more time. Yeah, I haven’t seen as much.” But what exactly happened, and what did Parsons say that stirred it all up?

Parsons mentioned that he hasn’t gotten a call from officials in “five years.” He even hinted at a double standard in player safety, pointing to a recent hit during Green Bay’s win over the Bengals. In that game, he got poked in the eye bad enough to pop a blood vessel, yet no flag was thrown. Parsons said if the league really cares about protecting players, it should protect everyone, not just offensive guys.

“We put so much emphasis on protecting the offense. Protect the defense,” Parsons said, via ESPN. “A guy could be trying to catch the ball, and you make a defensive play so he doesn’t catch it, and it’s targeting. It’s a flag….They don’t call offsides for offense, but they’ll call it on defense. They won’t call offensive pass interference, but they’ll call defensive pass interference. We know what they’re trying to do. They want to load the points up so fans can be happy. They’ll call defensive holding, but they won’t call offensive holding. Let’s just wake up.”

Parsons even joked he might get fined for speaking his mind, but said he’s willing to risk it. What frustrates him most isn’t just the holding he faces every week; it’s how NFL rules seem to always favor the offense. The eye-poke incident was just one example, and he’s now switched to a more protective facemask because of it. Not only that!

Parsons also took a jab at the Eagles’ “tush push,” saying every defender in the league hates that play because it gives the offense an unfair advantage. “You can’t stop it when they’re leaving early,” he said. “It’s impossible.” For him, it’s not just about penalties, it’s about fairness across the board. And finally, he doubled down on it. But that was just the start.

As per Parsons, defenders face heavy fines for the same hits that offensive players walk away from. Then he summed it up perfectly: “If you’re going to say it’s about protecting players, then protect all players. Don’t just protect one side of the ball.”

After this statement from Parsons, his head coach also jumped in to express his stance.

Matt LaFleur addresses Micah Parsons’ situation

While Green Bay debates whether Micah Parsons is getting a fair shake, Matt LaFleur didn’t dodge the issue either. He confirmed that the team will raise the matter with the officials before Sunday’s matchup against Arizona. “You surely send stuff in occasionally, but that’s definitely going to be a conversation pre-game,” LaFleur expressed. So, for now, he can only publicly support that much without getting a fine.

However, this isn’t the first time Parsons has spoken out against biased officiating. In 2023, Micah Parsons shared that when he talks to officials about missed holding calls, they tell him they didn’t throw the flag because he “couldn’t make the play.” That didn’t sit right with him or anyone listening. Holding is holding, no matter where it happens on the field.

The logic doesn’t even add up. Parsons is one of those rare defenders who can make plays most guys can’t, so if anything, he should be getting more calls. As Parsons put it perfectly, “How are you telling me what (play) I can make? Are you in my body? You got my abilities? No, YOU can’t make that play. I’m a little different. I think I can make every play if I’m near the ball.”

That time, the officiating was the issue for the DE. This time again, when he is in Green Bay, the same issues persist. Parsons remains the center of it all. He’s second in the league in pressures per game and already leads the Green Bay Packers with 29 through five weeks. So while the sack count is low (2.5), his influence remains constant. And when refs start calling the holdings, that impact will only grow.

So now, all eyes will be on the refs, and maybe LaFleur’s pregame chat. And it’ll decide how Parsons will react next.