The Green Bay Packers’ visit to Dallas this weekend already had enough drama on its own, but the return of Micah Parsons has turned the spotlight directly on Jerry Jones’ controversial front office decision. Once hailed as the heartbeat of the Dallas Cowboys’ defense, Parsons is now suiting up for Green Bay.
And his homecoming comes with a sharp backlash of the move that sent him away. The trade is now being painted as one of the biggest blunders in recent memory, and the Cowboys’ performance this season isn’t doing much to silence those arguments.
Former NFL Head Coach Tears Jerry Jones’ Cowboys Apart
On ESPN’s pregame coverage, a former NFL head coach, Rex Ryan, did not hold back when asked about the Parsons trade and the upcoming Packers matchup. He said, “Like I said, it was the worst trade in NFL history. And you know why?, For that reason, he makes everybody better. Yeah, look at this. Look how sorry Dallas’s defense has played. I mean, seriously, there’s no other way to be the worst in the league.” He described the move as “the worst trade in NFL history,” emphasizing how Parsons elevated everyone around him.
What the former Baltimore Ravens head coach wanted to say was that, without the dynamic edge rusher, Dallas’ corners, Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, no longer have the same cushion to gamble on interceptions. And he actually said that in the video. The Cowboys’ trademark opportunistic defense has transformed into a liability.
“You look at this defense, it’s been absolutely putrid,” Ryan further added. “They went from a unit that could wreck shop to the worst in the league. Parsons wasn’t just dominant himself; he made his teammates better by drawing all the attention.” He even dubbed the current group the “Dumsday defense,” a sharp twist on the team’s proud “Doomsday Defense” legacy.
Dallas’ defense, once considered among the NFL’s most feared units, has fallen apart without Parsons anchoring the pass rush. Entering Week 4, the Cowboys rank 30th in total defense, surrendering 397.7 yards per game. On the other hand, the Packers are 3rd in total defense with 232.3 defense yards on average, with only four touchdowns allowed.
They’ve given up 28.3 points per game, also among the worst in the league. And have generated only four sacks, tied for the fewest in the NFL. The Cowboys are 32nd in passing defense, where they have allowed 288 yards on average. Just one year ago, Parsons helped this defense rank in the top 5 in yards allowed and second in the league in sacks. The decline has been both sudden and dramatic.
Micah Parsons at the Helm of Green Bay’s Top Performance
Parsons, meanwhile, has thrived in Green Bay. The Packers rank 4th in total defense, giving up only 279.3 yards per game. And their pass rush has jumped into the top 10 with his presence. His ability to disrupt quarterbacks has opened up opportunities for the rest of the unit, just as he once did in Dallas.
Micah Parsons has made an immediate impact in the 2025 NFL season after joining the Green Bay Packers. In the three games he has played so far, he has recorded five total tackles. It includes three solo stops and two assists. Parsons has also added 1.5 sacks, contributing to the Packers’ pass-rush efforts. While he has yet to force a fumble or record an interception this season, his presence on the field has already elevated the team’s defensive performance.
Looking at his career stats, Parsons has accumulated 54 career sacks, 153 solo tackles, and 261 combined tackles. He has also forced nine fumbles over his career, showcasing his ability to disrupt offenses and create turnovers. He has not recorded an interception in his career, but he consistently impacts games with his pass-rushing dominance and relentless pressure on quarterbacks
Advanced metrics highlight Parsons’ influence even further. He boasts a 27.4% pass rush win rate, the highest among edge rushers with at least 1,000 pass-rush snaps since 2021, and an adjusted sack rate of 6.5%, ranking second-best in the same timeframe. Additionally, his knockdowns and quarterback hurries place him among the top defensive players in the league.
The Cowboys’ faithful have been here before. But the sting of this one feels different. Parsons was not only a star but also a cultural centerpiece of the defense. Now, as he returns to Dallas with the Packers, fans will see firsthand what they’ve lost, while questions about Jerry Jones’ decision-making grow louder.
The Cowboys-Packers clash won’t just be about two NFC powerhouses colliding. It will be a live referendum on the Parsons trade, and, judging by the current state of the Dallas defense, it already feels like one side has won.
