Micah Parsons facts for kids
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Parsons with the Dallas Cowboys in 2021
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| No. 11 – Dallas Cowboys | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | May 26, 1999 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 245 lb (111 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Harrisburg | ||||||||||
| College: | Penn State (2018–2020) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Micah Aaron Parsons (born May 26, 1999) is an American professional football player. He plays as a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Parsons played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions. While there, he was recognized as an All-American and the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. He was also named the Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl Classic in 2019. The Cowboys chose him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. He was then named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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Early Life and High School Football
Micah Parsons was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 26, 1999. He went to Central Dauphin High School for his first two years. Later, he moved to Harrisburg High School. There, he played both defensive end and running back.
In his senior year, Parsons was a star player. He ran for 1,239 yards and scored 27 touchdowns. He also caught passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Parsons was also a varsity basketball player.
He was considered one of the best high school football players in the country. Many top colleges wanted him to play for them. These included Nebraska, Georgia, and Penn State. Penn State offered him a scholarship when he was just a freshman. He decided to join Penn State on December 20, 2017. He finished high school early to start college sooner.
College Football Career
When Parsons joined Penn State, his coach, James Franklin, wanted him to play middle linebacker. This was a new position for him. Even as a freshman, Parsons was a strong player. He led his team with 82 tackles in his first year. He also had 1.5 sacks and forced two fumbles. He was the first freshman ever to lead Penn State in tackles.
In his second year, Parsons continued to excel. He started 12 games as a middle linebacker. He made 109 tackles and had five sacks. He also forced four fumbles. For his amazing performance, he was named the Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year. This award goes to the best linebacker in the Big Ten conference. He was also named an All-American. Parsons was the defensive MVP of the 2019 Cotton Bowl Classic. In that game, he had 14 tackles and two sacks.
Parsons decided not to play in the 2020 season. He was concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic. He also chose to enter the NFL draft early. Even though he left college early, he finished his degree in criminology in 2021.
Professional Football Career
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The Dallas Cowboys picked Micah Parsons in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. He was the 12th player chosen overall. In June 2021, he signed a four-year contract worth $17 million.
Early in his rookie season, Parsons moved back to playing defensive end. This was the position he played in high school. He quickly became very good at rushing the passer. In Week 8, he had 11 tackles and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He recorded at least one sack in six straight games. Parsons finished his first season with 84 tackles and 13 sacks. He also forced three fumbles. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro. Parsons also won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. His fellow players ranked him 16th among the top NFL players in 2022.
In the 2022 season, Parsons continued to dominate. He had 13.5 sacks and 65 tackles. He also forced three fumbles. In Week 8, he even scored a touchdown after picking up a fumble. He was again named a first-team All-Pro. His peers ranked him ninth among the top NFL players in 2023.
During the 2023 season, Parsons recorded 14 sacks and 64 tackles. He also forced one fumble. He earned Pro Bowl honors for the third time. In 2024, the Cowboys extended his contract. In the 2024 season, Parsons had 12 sacks, 43 tackles, and two forced fumbles.
Records and Achievements
Micah Parsons holds some impressive records for the Dallas Cowboys:
- Rookie sack record: 13 sacks in his first year.
Personal Life
Micah Parsons is a father. He has a son named Malcolm, born in May 2018. He also welcomed a daughter in January 2023. Parsons has said that his son's health was a big reason he chose not to play college football in 2020.
In 2020, there were some claims made against Penn State teammates. Parsons stated that these were "false allegations." He said, "There’s nothing pending against me, there’s nothing I would lie about."
Parsons is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He enjoys watching Penn State wrestling. He also supports the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team and the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team.
Parsons is a self-taught chess player. He believes playing chess helps him think better on the football field. He has even played in a chess tournament for NFL players. In May 2024, Parsons signed a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. This made him president of their American football digital sports media division, B/R Gridiron.
Images for kids
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Micah Parsons with the Dallas Cowboys in 2021
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Micah Parsons with Penn State in 2019
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Micah Parsons playing for the Cowboys in 2021
