One day after being traded from the Dallas Cowboys, Micah Parsons has his jersey number with the Green Bay Packers. He will wear No. 1 this year.
Parsons previously teased on social media he was deciding between two numbers – 0 and 1. He wore No. 11 with the Cowboys, but that number currently belongs to Jayden Reed. It was unclear if the Packers wide receiver would make a deal to exchange numbers with Parsons.
Ultimately, the star pass-rusher opted to go with No. 1 in his new home. Parsons confirmed he made a decision shortly after giving his opening statement.
“Yeah, No. 1,” Parsons told reporters during his introductory press conference Friday night. “I’m going with No. 1.”
The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Packers in exchange for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. All the while, the former Penn State star got the lucrative contract he desired. He is set to sign a four-year deal worth $188 million, including $136 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. He will also get $120 million at signing.
Micah Parsons had been seeking a new contract with the Cowboys that would likely make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL – which his deal with the Packers did. However, the pass-rush market shifted multiple times as Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt became the first $40 million-per-year edge rushers. That meant the price kept climbing for Parsons as he neared the end of his rookie deal.
However, as talks went along, Parsons said he was dealing with a back injury and reportedly went to get a second opinion the day before the trade took place. During his press conference, he said he’s feeling “great” and is working on a ramp-up plan with the training staff. He made it clear he doesn’t intend to just “sit on the sidelines” after the Packers’ investment.
“I think physically, I’m great,” Parsons said. “I think I can contribute a lot. I’m gonna team up with the doctors to create a plan. We already talked about how we can ramp things up and get me into a flow where they feel comfortable and I feel comfortable.
“But my plan is to be here. They didn’t give up what they gave up for me to sit on the sidelines and make this big of a risk and change for me to do that. So I’m finna give my all.”