Jerry Jones responds to Micah Parsons’ criticism after Cowboys split

The Dallas Cowboys fell short in the NFL playoffs this season. While Dak Prescott led a strong offense and entered Week 18 as the league’s best passer, the Cowboys’ defense has been underwhelming at times this year.

Dallas’ defensive unit came into the spotlight after star pass rusher Micah Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers in August. Parsons, who will miss the remainder of the regular season and the entire postseason with an ACL injury, recently evaluated the Cowboys’ defense.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus acknowledged the heavy void left following Parsons’ departure. Parsons replied with a few laughing emojis.

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Parsons defended his response by pointing out how longtime team owner Jerry Jones handled Parsons’ reputation.

“You all want me to feel bad?” Parsons wrote on

Jones addressed the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year’s comments during a routine appearance on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas.

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“I wish Micah the best,” Jones said. “I would have loved to have Micah in the team. But we couldn’t afford him. We wanted four or five players more than him. But he is extraordinary. I understand his sensitivity and I can even understand these comments.”

Dallas Cowboys owner, president and general manager Jerry Jones (left) and Micah Parsons during the second quarter of the Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11, 2024. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Parsons missed four games in 2024 but still finished the season with 12 sacks. He recorded double-digit sacks in each of his five seasons in the NFL.

Parsons collected 12½ sacks in his first 14 games with the Packers.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before a game against the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on September 28, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)

Green Bay sent defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two future first-round draft picks to the Cowboys in late August in exchange for Parsons.

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Shortly after the two teams agreed to the deal, Parsons became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. He signed a four-year, $188 million contract, ESPN reported at the time. The contract reportedly included guarantees of up to $136 million.

In his statement, Parsons thanked the Cowboys and expressed excitement about his next chapter: partial writing“I never wanted this chapter to end, but not everything was in my control. My heart was always here, and it still is. Through it all, I never made any demands. I never wanted anything more than justice. I just wanted the person I trusted to negotiate my contract to be part of the process.”

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