OXNARD, Calif. — In a stunning twist that’s sent shockwaves through Cowboys Nation, star pass rusher Micah Parsons has publicly requested a trade, saying he’s had enough of the drama behind the scenes.
Taking to social media on Friday, Parsons didn’t hold back. In a heartfelt post, he explained how things went south with the team he once dreamed of playing for — the same team he and his father cheered for growing up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
“Yes, I wanted to be here,” Parsons wrote. “I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboy and wear the star on my helmet… but unfortunately, I no longer want to be here.”
His words weren’t just about money. They were personal. Parsons expressed frustration over contract talks that happened behind closed doors — without his agent present — and alleged that damaging narratives were being pushed to the media about his injuries and commitment.
The Cowboys have yet to comment on the trade request, but it’s clear that the relationship between the Pro Bowler and the franchise has grown increasingly tense. Parsons is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is set to earn $21.324 million under the fifth-year option. As a defensive end, he feels undervalued compared to what he could’ve earned as a linebacker ($24.007 million).
What makes things even messier is how negotiations fell apart — or maybe never truly began. According to Parsons, his agent David Mulugheta reached out last year to start extension talks, but the Cowboys prioritized quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb instead.
Still, Parsons said he was eager to lock in his future with Dallas.
“I didn’t care. I wanted to secure myself as a Cowboy long-term,” he said, recalling how he even called team owner Jerry Jones while overseas in Abu Dhabi to arrange a meeting.
That meeting, Parsons said, took a turn. Though he intended to discuss leadership, the conversation veered into contract territory. According to Parsons, Jones later claimed they had agreed on a deal — something Parsons and his agent strongly denied.
Since then, major deals around the league have reshaped the market. Pass rushers like Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and T.J. Watt have landed huge extensions, with Watt topping the charts at $41 million per season. Yet, the Cowboys remained quiet — too quiet — with no follow-up from management to Mulugheta, according to Parsons.
He’s now at training camp but only participating lightly, citing back tightness. Still, he’s been present in meetings and on the sidelines.
What’s made things worse are comments from Jerry Jones that many fans saw as dismissive. When asked about Parsons’ health and future, Jones noted that paying big money doesn’t always ensure availability, pointing to Dak Prescott’s injury-marred season as an example.
Fans weren’t having it. At Saturday’s training camp, they heckled Jones with chants of “Pay Micah!” — echoing the calls made last year to “Pay Lamb.”
Stephen Jones, the team’s executive VP, brushed off the chants, saying, “We want to pay Micah, too. He’s got to want to be paid, too.”
For Parsons, that seemed to be the final straw.
“After repeated shots at myself and all the narratives, I have made a tough decision — I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys,” he wrote, adding that he has formally submitted a trade request to Stephen Jones.
The locker room appears to be behind him. Several teammates changed their profile pictures on social media to images of Parsons, while CeeDee Lamb posted bluntly:
“Never fails dawg. Just pay the man what you owe him. No need for the extra.”
Whether the Cowboys will honor the trade request or try to salvage the relationship remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: One of the NFL’s brightest defensive stars is no longer willing to stay silent — or stay in Dallas.
