GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers’ defense is a force to be reckoned with in 2025, and at the heart of their dominance is former Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons. As the Packers prepare to face the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday night, Parsons is spearheading a ferocious four-headed pass-rushing unit that includes Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, and Devonte Wyatt. Together, they’ve turned Green Bay’s defensive front into the NFL’s most feared, leading the league in points allowed, yards allowed per play, and passing yards allowed per play through the first three weeks.
Micah Parsons has been nothing short of a game-wrecker since joining the Packers. Despite facing constant double-teams on 67.0 percent of his pass rushes—second only to Cleveland’s Myles Garrett—and triple-teams on 11.3 percent of his rushes, Parsons has still managed to rack up 19 pressures, trailing only one player league-wide, according to Next Gen Stats. His ability to disrupt offenses, even under heavy blocking schemes, has opened the door for his teammates to thrive.
“I got a great challenge in front of me,” Parsons said ahead of the matchup against his former team. “I know they’re not going to make it easy for me. I know they got a plan for me, but it’s not about me. If they worry about me, I got other guys. I got D-Wy, I got Karl (Brooks), I got Rashan, who’s dominating this year, so we got a group of guys that they need to focus on.”
Rashan Gary, now in his seventh NFL season, has quietly taken the league by storm, leading the NFL with 4.5 sacks through three games. His explosive start is a testament to his offseason work and growing comfort in new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme. Gary’s 2021 season saw him generate 81 pressures, per Pro Football Focus, but a torn ACL in 2022 and a dip to 47 pressures in 2024 had some questioning his ceiling. Now, he’s on pace for a career-defining year.
“I saw it during OTAs,” Hafley said of Gary’s development. “He came back in great shape. Worked on his get-off, worked on his pass rush. It’s what he does every day, and it’s what he did in training camp.”
Gary, however, remains focused on the bigger picture. “It’s early in the season,” he said. “I got bigger goals to accomplish, we’ve got bigger goals to accomplish as a team, so it’s not something I’m focused on. I’m focused on the Cowboys.”
The addition of Parsons may have bumped 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness from the starting lineup, but it’s only elevated his game. Van Ness has 11 pressures through three games, putting him on pace for 62 this season—a massive leap from his 20 pressures in 2024 and 18 as a rookie. His development under new position coach DeMarcus Covington has been evident, as he’s capitalizing on the attention Parsons draws.
Devonte Wyatt, meanwhile, ranks second among defensive tackles in pressures, showcasing his ability to collapse the pocket from the interior. The trio of Parsons, Gary, and Van Ness has played together on just 22 of Green Bay’s 187 defensive snaps, primarily on third downs, but their impact is undeniable. When on the field together, the Packers allow just 1.5 yards per play and generate pressure on 36.3 percent of dropbacks, per Next Gen Stats.
“Right now, everybody’s hungry [and playing with an] unproven mindset,” Gary said. “Football’s an imperfect game, but we all strive to have that perfect game. I feel that’s our defensive mindset.”
While Parsons’ presence is a rising tide that lifts all boats, credit also goes to Hafley’s aggressive defensive scheme and Covington’s work with the defensive line. Hafley’s system has allowed the Packers’ pass rushers to play with freedom and physicality, while Covington’s coaching has honed their technique and synergy.
“I give a lot of credit to those D-line coaches,” Hafley said. “Being DeMarcus’ first year, I think it’s a great combination right now. But I’m really proud of RG and where he’s at, and we got to push him to continue to get better.”
As the Packers head to Dallas, the Cowboys are scrambling to bolster their own pass rush, recently signing veteran Jadeveon Clowney. Meanwhile, Green Bay boasts the NFL’s only team with four players—Parsons, Gary, Van Ness, and Wyatt—each recording 10 or more pressures. The Cowboys’ offensive line will have their hands full, especially with Parsons, who knows their tendencies better than anyone.
For Parsons, the return to Dallas is personal but not singular. “It’s not about me,” he reiterated. With Gary, Van Ness, and Wyatt thriving alongside him, the Packers’ four-headed monster is poised to wreak havoc. If the Cowboys focus too much on stopping Parsons, they risk being torn apart by his equally dangerous teammates.
As Gary put it, “Just being consistent to who I am. Haf’s been putting together a great game plan, even with the chips me and Micah been seeing this year. So, it’s just me being consistent and the player that I am and just trying to dominate first to fourth down.”
The NFL’s most dominant defense is coming to Dallas, and Micah Parsons is leading the charge.