Micah Parsons was only traded to Green Bay Packers 10 days ahead of their first game of the 2025 NFL season, but he already feels like he’s a part of the team’s longstanding rivalry with the Detroit Lions.
The star pass rusher was asked Thursday about potentially making his Packers debut in a rivalry game against the Lions. His response?
“I’m excited to play them,” Parsons said of the Lions, as told to reporters on Thursday. “I never liked Detroit. I never liked them, even when I was in Dallas.”
Parsons went on to explain he felt as though the Dallas Cowboys had developed a rivalry with the Lions after playing against them each of the last three seasons.
“It was just always a heavyweight fight every time they came in,” Parsons said of the Dan Campbell-coached squad. “They kinda got our guys when I was injured last year – the whole team was injured.”
Indeed, the Lions thrashed the Cowboys, 47-9, in Week 6 last season. Detroit outgained Dallas 492-251 and saw Jared Goff post a 153.8 passer rating after completing 18 of 25 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns.
But Dallas won each of the previous two matchups. That included a 20-19 Cowboys win packed with controversy in Week 17 of the 2023 NFL season, which ultimately helped Dallas beat Detroit in the race for the NFC’s No. 2 seed.
Still, Parsons is “excited” to get a chance to exact revenge for last year’s shellacking in his first game with the Packers. The 26-year-old also knows Detroit will be amped up to beat Green Bay as the Lions look to bounce back from a disappointing divisional-round playoff exit at the hands of the Washington Commanders last season.
“I know they’re excited,” Parsons said. “It’s gonna go all 12-15 rounds.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Micah Parsons disses Lions ahead of Packers debut: ‘Never liked Detroit’
Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
