Micah Parsons is a Green Bay Packer and, while that may be hard to digest for Dallas Cowboys fans, the player himself is ready to move on from what he has described as the toughest spell of his career.

With Cowboys owner Jerry Jones steadfast in his belief that he and Parsons had hammered out a deal for the All-Pro’s first contract extension, Parsons wanted to involve agent David Mulugheta in ongoing discussions, causing a divide between the two parties that, ultimately, could not be bridged. The edge rusher lodged a trade request ahead of training camp — which Jones insisted would not be considered — and even began thinking that he would remain in Texas this season, only to find that he would be Wisconsin-bound instead.

“I didn’t think I would be traded, but that’s the harsh reality,” Parsons admitted during the obligatory introductory press call, adding that it had been Mulugheta and not the team that had informed him of the deal. “Everything happens for a reason — and it’s a blessing in disguise.

“I didn’t have any say [in where I went],” he added, before conceding that he had landed on his feet as the Cowboys appeared happy to trade him to a conference rival. “I would say I’m pretty lucky because I understand the rich history of the Packers. The fact that they had interest in me and understand that they have a pretty tough team already in the NFC.

“I would say these last four months have probably been the hardest four months of my life — I was pretty much geared up and ready to play [Green Bay in Week 4] and, now, I’m on the other side and get ready to play for these guys. I’m very excited.”

Parsons, who has piled up 52.5 sacks in his four seasons in the league, matching legendary Packer Reggie White as the only other player to record at least 12 sacks in each of those initial campaigns, has added to the inevitable pressure of arriving as part of a trade that shipped first-round draft picks in 2026 and ‘27 — as well as fan-favourite Kenny Clark — to his former team by choosing to wear the #1 on his jersey. Having asked his social media following whether he should replace his familiar #11 — used in Green Bay by WR Jayden Reed — the Penn State alum opened his press availability by announcing his decision, fully aware that the last Packer to wear #1 was founder Curly Lambeau.

“I’m not even going to lie, there is a lot of expectations,” he said, standing in front of the cameras in a natty knitwear combo exuding Packers colours. “I’d be a fool to think that there [aren’t] expectations or there isn’t pressure in the position that I’m stepping into. But, then again, that’s a blessing in itself, that means that they believe in me that much. I’m going to be here to win games and I’m going to push these guys to do what we have to do to prove this organisation was right about me.”

Quite apart from the protracted contract talks — or lack of them — in Dallas, the 26-year-old spent much of his training camp ‘hold in’ getting treatment and assessment for a back injury. Arriving in Green Bay, however, the problem, according to Parsons at least, has been sorted.

“I’m going to be ready,” he insisted, no doubt eyeing the Packers’ Week 1 encounter with division rival Detroit. “We already talked about how we can ramp things up and get me into a flow where they feel comfortable and I feel comfortable. 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 going to give them my all.”