Micah Parsons, former Penn State football defenseman and current Dallas Cowboys defensive end, has yet to see progress with his contract due to franchise owner Jerry Jones' stubbornness to work on the extension. Now as training camp is already underway and Parsons has sat out on particpating, the former Nittany Lion is considering extreme measures to get the results he's looking for.
According to The Athletic, Parsons' relationship with the Cowboys is deteriorating. The defensive end is weighing his options, considering "a trade request or even a declaration that he is severing his relationship with the team."
BREAKING: The Micah Parsons-Cowboys relationship has deteriorated to the point where the star pass rusher is considering drastic measures which could include a trade request or even a declaration that he is severing his relationship with the team, per multiple league sources… pic.twitter.com/7Yujmv4JQ2
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 1, 2025
Parsons' relationship with the team is already tense.
He had conversations with Dallas in the spring, but left contract details and negotiations up to his agent. Parsons' rookie contract expires after the 2025 season. When his agent attempted to discuss the contact the Cowboys, they declined him and told Parsons that "they already had a deal."
The team is refusing to speak with his agent meanwhile Parsons is showing his commitment to the team but continuing to show up to training camp.
“It’s not uncommon for me, and not anything there’s a lot of angst over," Jones said to media on July 21, according to The Athletic. "He’s doing a real good job of being here. And that’s important . . . We are where we are. And I sign the check. Period.”
As days pass and zero movement has been made with the contract, though, Parsons has decided that more extreme measures may be his best option. Holdouts aren't uncommon for Jones and the Cowboys, but Parsons is the first to toy with the idea of trade requests and severing ties completely with Dallas.
He made his feelings about the matter clear in reposting a supportive response from JJ Watt and speaking to media about his disappointment.
"You see a lot of people in our league getting taken care of [and] you just wish you had . . . that same type of energy," Parsons said. ". . . I want to be here. At the end of the day, they sign the checks. Let’s see if they want me to be here."
The former Nittany Lion has been a Pro Bowl selection every season in the NFL. In 2024, he posted 43 tackles, 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Parsons should be one of the highest paid non-quarterbacks in the league, meaning his extension should be around $40 million per year.