In a highly anticipated Week 4 showdown, Micah Parsons, now a star linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, will make his emotional return to Dallas to face his former team, the Cowboys, at AT&T Stadium on Sunday Night Football. The matchup, set for September 28, 2025, carries extra weight following Parsons’ blockbuster trade to Green Bay on August 28, 2025, after failed contract negotiations with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Parsons, drafted by Dallas with the No. 12 overall pick in 2021, was traded to the Packers in exchange for Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks. The move sent shockwaves through the NFL, given Parsons’ status as a generational defensive talent. During his four seasons with the Cowboys, the two-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler racked up an impressive 52.5 sacks, 63 tackles for loss, 112 quarterback hits, and nine forced fumbles. Now, in his first three games with the 2-1 Packers, Parsons has already notched 1.5 sacks, five tackles, and six quarterback hits, proving his elite playmaking ability remains intact.
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Ahead of the prime-time clash against the 1-2 Cowboys, Jerry Jones didn’t hold back when discussing Parsons during his weekly radio appearance on 105.3 The Fan. “I think the world of Micah. I might say I wish him well, but it’s obvious I don’t this weekend in terms of Green Bay winning the ballgame,” Jones said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. His comments carried a competitive edge, signaling Dallas’ intent to neutralize their former star. “He’s going to make some plays no matter how you play him, but when I saw [other teams] play us well with Micah in the game, and it did happen, then obviously we’ll be looking to try to run those kinds of plays [against him].”
Jones’ remarks suggest the Cowboys have a strategic game plan to counter Parsons’ disruptive presence on the field. The owner’s confidence stems from past instances where opposing teams successfully limited Parsons’ impact during his tenure in Dallas. While acknowledging Parsons’ undeniable talent, Jones made it clear that the Cowboys are preparing to exploit any weaknesses in his game to secure a crucial victory.
The trade, finalized just one week before the 2025 NFL season began, has sparked debate about its timing. When asked if he regretted not trading Parsons earlier in the offseason, Jones was resolute. “No. Not at all,” he stated. “We needed this timing. We needed to be right here at the beginning of the season, in my mind, to get the highest value.” Jones’ decision to wait until late August maximized the return for Dallas, landing them a proven veteran in Clark and valuable draft capital.
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For Parsons, the matchup is deeply personal. His agent, David Mulugheta, recently spoke about the linebacker’s connection to the Cowboys. “I think the most important thing is Micah wanted to be a Cowboy,” Mulugheta said, via ESPN. “He grew up cheering for the Cowboys, wore the blue and white at Penn State, wore it in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. He wanted to be a Cowboy, and we did everything we could for him to remain a Cowboy.” Despite his desire to stay, failed contract talks led to his departure, setting the stage for what many are calling his “revenge game.”
As the 2-1 Packers prepare to take on the 1-2 Cowboys, all eyes will be on Parsons and how he performs against his former team. Will he dominate and prove Jones made a mistake in trading him, or will Dallas’ game plan stifle the star linebacker? One thing is certain: this prime-time clash will be a battle for the ages, fueled by high stakes, raw emotion, and Jerry Jones’ chilling message to his former franchise player.