Behind the scenes of Micah Parsons’ final days as a Dallas Cowboy

FRISCO — On the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 26, Micah Parsons informed the Cowboys he needed to reschedule a treatment session for his ailing back. Parsons told his brother, Terrence Parsons Jr., that the team threatened to fine him if he didn’t attend the session.

That’s when he knew.

“That Tuesday, he thought he was going to be traded,” Terrence Parsons told The Dallas Morning News.

Two days later, Parsons was dealt to the Green Bay Packers for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks in a blockbuster move that stunned the NFL and altered the trajectory of the Cowboys’ season days before it kicked off.

Gone was a generational talent, a player team owner Jerry Jones hinted would one day be enshrined into the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor – and a player the franchise said was offered one of the largest contracts for a defensive player in franchise history.

Now, almost a month since the trade, Parsons and the Packers visit AT&T Stadium on Sunday. Before the primetime matchup, a review of the summer-long saga reveals new details, including how Parsons’ teammates reacted when first learning of the trade and how the NFLPA weighed whether to reach out to the NFL commissioner about Jones talking with individual players about contracts.

The trade, on the heels of the Dallas Mavericks’ stunning decision to trade Luke Doncic — another generational talent early in his career — was a byproduct of a drawn-out contract stalemate. Stubbornness on both sides resulted in a fractured relationship and the Cowboys’ best pass rusher playing for one of their biggest rivals.

How did the Cowboys and Parsons reach the point of no return?

“People say never make it personal,” said Trevon Diggs, one of Parsons’ closest friends on the Cowboys. “But when you go out there and put your life on the line and practice hard, in the game risking your body and stuff, it becomes personal because you care about the game so much.”

The build-up

It started in March with an unscheduled meeting about leadership. It ended with a handshake agreement for the biggest contract ever given to a defensive player.

But it was never that simple.

Jones, one of the most powerful owners in sports, is never one to not speak with his players. He touts his close relationships that help secure deals, especially during contract negotiations. Parsons said he entered that March meeting thinking the talk would focus on leadership. The Cowboys wanted Parsons to become more of a leader and moved his locker next to quarterback Dak Prescott, considered one of the best leaders on the team.

Parsons was entering the fifth and final year of his contract with the hopes of receiving an extension. He said he reached out to team officials in 2024 to jump-start talks and was told to wait until the next year.

In addition to the leadership talk, a contract discussion took place. Jones said he shook Parsons’ hand with the understanding that they had the parameters of a contract extension. The Cowboys felt confident it was a matter of time before Parsons would sign a deal. Parsons later went to Stephen Jones and asked for more money, a person with knowledge of their conversations told The Dallas Morning News. Stephen Jones, the person said, persuaded his father to increase the offer.

Team officials eventually sent a proposal to Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, who rejected it.

Officials with the NFLPA were bothered by Jerry Jones talking to Parsons independently of his agent, which Jones has done in the past. NFLPA officials explored the idea of asking NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to speak to Jones, but the NFL’s CBA with the players doesn’t state that an owner or general manager can’t speak with a player about a contract. The only mandate is that a player has a certified agent to finalize a deal with a team.

The trade request

There was some question if Parsons would attend training camp, which started July 22, but he arrived on time without the intention of working out. Instead, Parsons would conduct a hold-in, where he would attend meetings and practices to avoid getting fined.

Contract talks between the Cowboys and Mulugheta went nowhere. During training camp, Jerry Jones said Parsons pulled the deal off the table, meaning things were back at square one.

On Aug. 1, Parsons made a trade request that stunned the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones called the trade request a negotiating ploy. Even Parsons’ brother thought the same.

Contract talks remained stale, and with the Sept. 4 season opener getting closer, it became apparent the Cowboys needed to do something to resolve the dispute.

In late August, Jones called numerous teams seeking trade value for Parsons. He called New York Jets owner Woody Johnson seeking to trade for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, but Johnson quickly told Jones that Williams wasn’t available, a person with knowledge of the discussion told The News. Jones wanted to trade Parsons to a team for a defensive tackle to address the run defense.

Parsons had Green Bay on his list of teams he wanted to play for, as he thought the midsized town reminded him of the State College, Pa., area where he attended Penn State. Miami was another possible destination, but Parsons didn’t want to play in Miami. Denver coach Sean Payton has a close relationship with the Jones family, having been an assistant coach for several years in Dallas, but Payton didn’t make an offer. Jones also didn’t want to trade Parsons within the NFC East.

The Philadelphia Eagles reached out to ask for Parsons, but they were quickly rebuffed by the Cowboys.

Green Bay became the clear choice because of the team’s depth at defensive tackle and the ability to close on a contract offer.

Mulugheta made one last attempt to secure a deal, reaching out to Stephen Jones a few days before the trade. Jerry Jones responded that Parsons had two choices: play under his current contract or take the offer that was on the table.

Parsons and Mulugheta sought to stay in Dallas but not under those circumstances. That’s when the trade went down.

The Packers signed Parsons to a four-year, $188 million deal with $136 million guaranteed. The $46.5 million average salary is the highest for a non-quarterback.

So how much were the Cowboys offering? That’s difficult to determine.

Jones says the Cowboys’ offer to Parsons was higher than Green Bay’s without giving specific numbers. At the start of contract talks, Mulugheta was seeking a $200 million deal in total compensation over a three- or four-year period. The Cowboys wanted Parsons to sign a five-year contract, something they normally offer their players. A person close to Parsons said he would have gotten a Jerry Jones tattoo if the Cowboys offered him a contract of more than $200 million.

“I really like Micah,” Jones said after the trade. “I appreciate the four years we had him here. He’s a great player, there’s no question that I could’ve signed him in April. To have agreements, all parties have to agree.”

Parsons described the contract talks as emotional.

“These last six months was super draining, super toxic for everyone,” he told reporters after arriving in Green Bay. “It’s something that I don’t think any player should have to go through.”

The response

Parsons sent a group text message to several Cowboys players saying he had been traded.

“Sorry it had to happen like this,” the text message began.

“I put my phone down,” defensive end Marshawn Kneeland said. “The message said he loved us and he’s sorry it had to happen like that and we all came back and supported him.”

Terrence Parsons said he was playing Xbox when someone in the live stream told him his brother had been traded. He quickly left his house and headed toward his brother’s.

There were at least 20 family members at Micah Parsons’ house. Several Cowboys players joined them, including Diggs, Mazi Smith, Tyler Smith and Osa Odighizuwa. It was a celebratory but sad night. Parsons’ mother, Sherese, cooked for the players and family members.

“Soul food, chicken, mac and cheese, all the sides, drank a little bit,” Terrence Parsons said. “It was a good time, bittersweet. I had to tell [some of the players] they were going to be OK.”

Odighizuwa was one of the last players to arrive at the house. Mazi Smith, who grew close to Parsons, was one of the last players to leave.

“It’s hard to see him go,” Tyler Smith said. “But he got ultimately what he wanted, all parties are happy and healthy. I think that’s the most important thing.”

The aftermath

When the Cowboys take on their former star player Sunday night, it won’t be a first in franchise history. Most recently, running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is third on the franchise list in rushing yards, played against his former team after signing with the New England Patriots. Emmitt Smith, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher, also played against his former team with the Arizona Cardinals.

Diggs said he is going to ask for Parsons’ jersey after the game. Several players continue to speak to him daily.

Micah Parsons said his suite at AT&T Stadium will be filled with family.

Terrence Parsons said his family members were diehard Cowboys fans when his brother was drafted and showed some loyalty once the regular season started. Parsons’ mom attended the Cowboys’ first game of the season at Philadelphia because she had already purchased the tickets. Parsons’ mom even talked with Jerry Jones during a preseason game at AT&T Stadium, and Terrence said the conversation was pleasant and partly focused on the structure of the contract her son never signed.

Without Parsons, the Cowboys’ pass rush has suffered.

From 2021 to 2024, the Cowboys generated a 42% pressure rate with Parsons, tops in the NFL. Without Parsons, the pressure rate is down to 34%.

The hype surrounding Parsons’ departure may die down after this weekend, at least until the Cowboys draft next spring. But whether there’s closure is uncertain.

“You’ve got to ask Jerry and Micah,” Prescott said with laughter. “To me, the closure happened when the trade happened. It will be fun to play against a friend, a great competitor and somebody I know who wants to sack me. It will be fun, that’s up to those guys.”

In the wake of the trade, national reports surfaced saying Parsons wasn’t a beloved figure in the Cowboys’ locker room. Earlier this week, Parsons said he was looking forward to sacking Prescott, whom he considered to be a mentor in some ways. Several Cowboys players were at Parsons’ home the day of the trade, and some continue to speak with him, including Diggs who referred to Parsons as his best friend.

So while it’s difficult to know how fans will react to his return – Jerry Jones said there won’t be a video tribute at the game – any friction between the Cowboys and Parsons appears to be at the contract table, not on the football field.

“I doubt that’s coming from inside the locker room. We love the guy,” cornerback C.J. Goodwin said. “Me personally, I have a very good relationship with him. He’s always been good to me. I’ve always been good to him. I don’t know where that came from. I’m hoping he does well.”

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