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: | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| 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 Week 18, 2024 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
Micah Aaron Parsons (born May 26, 1999) is an amazing American football player. He plays as a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the pros, Parsons played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
At Penn State, he was recognized as one of the best college players. He won awards like the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. The Cowboys picked him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. In his first year, he was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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Early Life and High School Years
Micah Parsons was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 26, 1999. He started high school at Central Dauphin High School. Later, he moved to Harrisburg High School. There, he played both defensive end and running back.
In his senior year, Parsons was a star. He ran for 1,239 yards and scored 27 touchdowns. He also caught passes for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns. Besides football, he played varsity basketball.
Micah was a top recruit for college football. Experts ranked him very highly in his class. Many big colleges wanted him to play for them. These included Nebraska, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Alabama, and Penn State.
Penn State University offered Parsons a scholarship early on. He decided to join Penn State on December 20, 2017. He even finished high school seven months early to start college sooner.
College Football Career at Penn State
When Parsons joined Penn State, his coach, James Franklin, had a plan. He wanted Micah to play middle linebacker, even though he played defensive end in high school. Parsons quickly showed he could be a starter, even as a freshman.
Freshman Season (2018)
In his first year, Parsons played in 13 games. He started only one game but led his team in tackles with 82. He also made 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He was the first Penn State freshman to lead the team in tackles. In one game against the University of Kentucky, he had 14 tackles and a strip-sack.
Sophomore Season (2019)
Before his second season, Parsons was on the watch list for the Butkus Award. This award goes to the best linebacker. He started 12 out of 13 games. He made 109 tackles, 5 sacks, and forced 4 fumbles.
Parsons was named the Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year. This award is for the best linebacker in the Big Ten conference. He was also named a consensus All-American. He was the defensive MVP of the 2019 Cotton Bowl Classic. In that game, he had 14 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Opting Out and Graduation
Parsons decided not to play in the 2020 season. This was due to worries about the COVID-19 pandemic. He also chose to enter the NFL draft early. Even though he left early, Parsons still earned his degree in criminology from Penn State in 2021.
Professional Football Career with the Cowboys
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The Dallas Cowboys chose Micah Parsons as the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $17 million.
Rookie Season (2021)
Early in his rookie year, a teammate got injured. This led to Parsons moving back to his high school position of defensive end. He quickly became a great pass rusher. In Week 8, he had 11 tackles and earned the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
Parsons had at least one sack in six straight games. His 12 sacks in his first 13 games were among the most by any rookie in NFL history. He finished his first season with 84 tackles and 13 sacks. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl and named first-team All-Pro. He also won the unanimous Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Other players ranked him 16th among the top NFL players of 2022.
Second Season (2022)
In Week 5 of the 2022 season, Parsons had two sacks against the Los Angeles Rams. He again won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award. In Week 8, he scored a touchdown by returning a fumbled ball 36 yards.
For the 2022 season, Parsons had 13.5 sacks and 65 tackles. He had six games where he recorded two sacks. He was named a first-team All-Pro again. His fellow players ranked him ninth among the top NFL players of 2023.
Third Season (2023)
In Week 2 of the 2023 season, Parsons had a fantastic game against the New York Jets. He recorded two sacks, forced a fumble, and recovered it. This performance earned him another NFC Defensive Player of the Week award.
He finished the 2023 season with 14 sacks and 64 tackles. He also earned Pro Bowl honors for the 2023 season. Players ranked him 17th among the top NFL players of 2024. In April 2024, the Cowboys decided to keep Parsons longer by picking up his fifth-year contract option.
NFL Career Highlights
Micah Parsons has already achieved a lot in his short NFL career.
Cowboys Team Records
- Rookie sack record: 13 sacks (most by a rookie in Cowboys history).
Personal Life and Interests
Micah Parsons is a proud 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 football in 2020.
Parsons is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is a big fan of sports teams from his home state. He supports Penn State wrestling, the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team, and the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team.
Micah is also a self-taught chess player. He believes playing chess helps him think strategically on the football field. He has even played in online chess tournaments for NFL players.
In February 2024, Parsons showed off his basketball skills. He played in the NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game. He scored 37 points and had 16 rebounds, winning the Most Valuable Player award for the game. In May 2024, Parsons signed a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. This makes him president of their digital sports media division, B/R Gridiron, which focuses on American football.
