The Micah Parsons saga in Dallas has come to a shocking end.
After months of stalled negotiations and public back-and-forth with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, the All-Pro edge rusher has been traded to the Green Bay Packers. According to reports from NFL Network and ESPN, Green Bay sent two first-round picks to Dallas before finalizing a massive four-year, $188 million contract extension with Parsons, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Parsons Secures Record-Setting Contract
The 26-year-old star had been playing on his fifth-year option with the Cowboys but made it clear earlier this summer he wouldn’t suit up without a long-term extension. Green Bay wasted no time in locking him down, guaranteeing $120 million at signing and delivering a record $47 million annual salary.
The deal surpasses the recent extension for Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt, cementing Parsons as the league’s top-paid defender.
Thank you Dallas ….. GO Pack Go! 🧀🟢🟡 pic.twitter.com/FBnN1zRIri
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) August 28, 2025
Fallout in Dallas and a Fresh Start in Green Bay
Parsons was the heartbeat of Dallas’ defense since being drafted 12th overall in 2021. In just four seasons, he racked up 52.5 sacks, four Pro Bowl appearances, and three All-Pro selections. But his relationship with Jones deteriorated during negotiations, with both sides trading public jabs that made a resolution in Dallas unlikely.
For the Packers, who already boast a strong young defensive core, Parsons provides an immediate game-changer and a franchise cornerstone for the future.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys lose one of the league’s most dominant players in a trade that will sting for years.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images