Jerry Jones Stands by Micah Parsons Trade After Packers Fans Chant 'Thank You, Jerry!'
Cowboys owner says the deal was a deliberate move to acquire multiple players and maximize Dallas' Super Bowl chances for Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Friday he has no regrets about trading linebacker Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, dismissing fan chants directed at him after Parsons starred in the Packers’ Week 2 victory.
Jones, speaking on Dallas sports radio station 105.3 The Fan, argued the deal was a deliberate allocation of resources designed to improve the Cowboys’ roster depth and immediate championship prospects rather than a mistake driven by emotion. He pointed to precedent in Dallas history and noted that other teams succeed without a single star player on the field.
"There are 30 other teams, other than the Cowboys, playing without Micah," Jones said. "You’ve got to have about minimum 40-something players to play this game." He compared the Parsons transaction to the 1989 trade that sent Herschel Walker out of Dallas for draft capital that helped build the Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty, but said the Parsons deal was aimed at winning sooner rather than stockpiling picks.
"As opposed to Herschel Walker, which was to basically get draft picks and was basically a recognition that we would compete on another day, this was not that," Jones said. "This was a very conscious trade to get three, four, five, six players for one." He added that the move was intended to "maximize our chance to get a Super Bowl for Dak [Prescott]." Jones acknowledged Parsons’ talent, calling him "very, very special," but said the Cowboys have assets on the field who can help replace production.
Micah Parsons, a four-time Pro Bowl selection entering the season, delivered a high-profile performance Thursday night in Green Bay’s 27-18 win over the Washington Commanders, registering eight pressures, two tackles and half a sack in the victory that improved the Packers to 2-0.
After the game at Lambeau Field, some Packers fans chanted "Thank you, Jerry!" in reference to Jones, a reaction that drew attention and prompted follow-up questions for the Cowboys owner. Jones said he was not rattled by the chants and reiterated his belief that the trade increased Dallas’ chance to contend immediately by adding multiple contributors.
The trade has fueled debate across the NFL, with supporters pointing to Parsons’ immediate impact on Green Bay’s defense and critics questioning whether the Cowboys surrendered elite pass-rush talent. Jones framed the transaction as a strategic roster decision rather than a concession, noting that team-building often requires moving marquee players to address broader needs.
Jones also referenced current Cowboys defensive pieces when discussing the team’s plan, mentioning players expected to fill roles the departed Parsons occupied. He emphasized that football is a team sport requiring roughly 40 active contributors on game day and that no single player plays every snap for most winning teams.
The comments come as the Cowboys evaluate their early-season performance and the effects of roster changes made in the offseason. Jones’ remarks underscore the franchise’s stated priority of building a supporting cast around quarterback Dak Prescott as Dallas seeks another Super Bowl run.
Parsons’ early success with the Packers will likely continue to be a talking point around the league, and Jones’ public defense of the trade signals that Dallas leadership remains committed to the roster plan that produced the deal. The Cowboys host their next opponent looking to translate front-office decisions into on-field results while the Packers aim to sustain the momentum buoyed by Parsons’ arrival.