Micah Parsons contract dispute timeline: Why Cowboys star’s frustration boiled over after failed offseason negotiations
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Micah Parsons contract dispute timeline: Why Cowboys star’s frustration boiled over after failed offseason negotiations
Micah Parsons tweeted a “one last time” GIF with Trevon Diggs on Thursday. On Friday, Parsons said he has requested a trade from the Dallas Cowboys. Parsons said contract negotiations stretched back to before the 2024 NFL season. He said he first got in touch with the team about an extension in the 2023 offseason. The Cowboys reportedly told Parsons they didn’t want to start contract talks at that point.Things escalated this offseason, eventually leading to Parsons’ trade request. It was a culmination of a tense back-and-forth between Parsons and the organization that stretches back to the 20 23 offseason. It’s unclear if Parsons will report to training camp with the Cowboys this season. The team has yet to comment on his request for a trade. It is also unclear if the Cowboys will offer Parsons a new contract in the next two years. It has been reported that T.J. Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers this summer. It would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL and set the bar even higher for Parsons.
Parsons tweeted out the image while responding to a photo of him with Trevon Diggs at team training camp. In doing so, Parsons seemed to imply this will be the last season he and Diggs will be teammates on the Cowboys.
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Sure enough, Parsons released a statement on Friday saying he has requested a trade from Dallas.
It was a culmination of a tense back-and-forth between Parsons and the organization that stretches back to the 2023 offseason, when Parsons said he first got in touch with the team about an extension.
Things escalated this offseason, eventually leading to Parsons’ trade request.
How, exactly, did things reach this point? Here’s a rough timeline of Parsons’ failed negotiations with the Cowboys.
Before 2024 season: Micah Parsons reaches out about extension
In Friday’s statement, Parsons said contract negotiations stretched back to before the 2024 NFL season. He said that was the first time his agent reached out to the team about a new deal for the star pass rusher.
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At the time, the Cowboys reportedly told Parsons they didn’t want to start contract talks at that point. Parsons said he was fine with that decision and turned his focus to the 2024 season.
Parsons was limited to 13 games in 2024 due to an ankle injury, but turned in another excellent season. He racked up 12 sacks and 23 quarterback hits despite missing time. That performance earned Parsons his four-straight trip to the Pro Bowl.
After 2024 season: Micah Parsons reaches out to Cowboys again
At the end of the 2024 NFL season, Parsons said he told his agent to reach out to the Cowboys to negotiate a new contract. Parsons’ agent advised Parsons to wait until other defensive stars signed new contracts, as that would likely raise his asking price.
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Parsons said he knew he would leave money on the table, but told his agent to reach out to the team anyway. Parsons claimed the team did not respond to his agent’s requests at the time.
March 2025: Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons meet
With the contract situation still unresolved, Parsons met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to “talk about leadership,” per Parsons.
During that meeting, Jones reportedly started talking to Parsons about a new contract. Parsons said he engaged in that conversation, and let Jones know what he was seeking in a new deal. Parsons said he did not consider that meeting “a formal negotiation.” At the end of that meeting, Parsons reportedly said his agent would reach out to “get things done.” When Parsons’ agent got in touch with the team, it did not respond.
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April 2025: Micah Parsons shows up to voluntary workouts
Parsons surprised some when he showed up to voluntary workouts in April. At the time, Parsons explained he felt it was important to support new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and to be a leader for the rest of the club.
June 2025: Micah Parsons says he’ll report to training camp
Months after his meeting with Jones, Parsons still did not have a deal with the Cowboys. When asked about the situation, Parsons said he planned to report to training camp even if both sides couldn’t agree on a contract before then. He put the pressure on Jones to get it done, saying, “It’s in the owner’s hands.”
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A few days later, Parsons let some frustrations show, telling reporter Clarence Hill Jr. that the Cowboys were costing themselves money by waiting to sign Parsons to a new deal.
A number of star defensive players inked new contracts over the offseason, raising the bar for what Parsons could demand in negotiations. By June, both Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett had already signed new deals that made them the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers standout T.J. Watt had not signed a new deal yet, but was almost certain to reset the market with a record-breaking contract once both sides reached an agreement.
July 2025: Parsons reports, both sides ‘further away’ from a deal
As predicted, Watt signed a three-year, $123 million extension with the Steelers, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL and setting the bar even higher for Parsons’ next contract.
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Parsons reported to team training camp at the end of July. He opted to sit out of practices, citing a back injury. When asked about his contract situation, Parsons said his agent contacted the team and was waiting to hear back.
At the time, Parsons also told reporters, “I want to be here. At the end of the day, they sign the checks. Let’s see if they want me to be here.”
The situation really took a turn for the worst at the end of July, when ESPN’s Adam Schefter claimed negotiations between Parsons and the Cowboys were “further away” than expected. Schefter said both sides had “gone backwards, not forward” and added that negotiations didn’t seem to be happening at that time.
Aug 2025: Micah Parsons requests a trade from Cowboys
Just days after Schefter’s report, things reached a boiling point. Parsons posted a GIF implying it was his final season in Dallas and then officially requested a trade a day later. In between those two events, at least two Cowboys defenders changed their social-media avatars to include pictures featuring Parsons, a sign of solidarity between the players.
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CeeDee Lamb, who went through his own round of contract negotiations with the team last offseason, also showed support for Parsons on Friday, telling the Cowboys to “just pay the man.”
Where does Micah Parsons go from here?
Despite Parsons’ trade request, the Cowboys reportedly have no intention of dealing Parsons, according to Diana Russini of The Athletic.
Parsons has the track record to justify a record-breaking new contract. He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons and is a two-time first-team All-Pro. While he’s never won the Defensive Player of the Year award, Parsons has finished in the top three for the honor three times.
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Whether that deal comes with the Cowboys is now a major question. While it’s possible cooler heads prevail and the situation is salvaged, Friday marked an ugly point in the relationship, one that could lead to Parsons playing for a new franchise next season.