Micah Parsons says he had 'chills' in Packers debut, records first sack after stunning trade

Micah Parsons said he felt “chills” when he walked out of the Lambeau Field tunnel for his first game as a Green Bay Packer and delivered a performance that included his first sack for his new team in a 27-13 win over the Detroit Lions.

Parsons, traded from the Dallas Cowboys in a deal that surprised the league after protracted contract talks, repeatedly beat Lions right tackle Penei Sewell and pressured quarterback Jared Goff before bringing him down with a fourth-quarter sack. The play drew reactions on social media from former Cowboys teammates and others watching, underscoring the attention the move generated.

"I can't lie, it gave me chills. This environment, the first time, how they embraced me, the fans. This was one-of-one," Parsons said after the game. "This was really just a blessing in disguise. When Jordan Love told me it'd be this nice, I could never have imagined it would be like this."

Parsons also described the lead-up to his trade as difficult. "It was super draining," he said, adding that the situation in Dallas became "super toxic." He said the timing — being traded a week before the regular season — was "outrageous and rough," noting that the late move deprived him of time to work with his former teammates.

"These guys embraced me. They believe in my talents. They believed in me and I'm just gonna give these guys everything I have because I know what's at stake and I know what they gave up for me to be here and I'mma do what it takes for us to win," Parsons said.

Former Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs posted "This can't be real. Wake me up from the dream," on X alongside a video of Parsons' sack, reflecting the social media reaction to the new Packer's first-game impact.

The trade that sent Parsons to Green Bay became a major storyline in the NFL offseason as contract negotiations between the player and Dallas stalled and public friction ensued, including comments from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones that drew attention. Green Bay's acquisition of Parsons aimed to bolster a defense that gained an immediate boost in his debut.

The Packers opened the season with the victory over Detroit at home, and Parsons' presence was a central element of the win. He pressured the Lions throughout the game, contributed to disrupting the Detroit offense and recorded the sack that helped close out the contest.

Parsons' arrival completes a high-profile offseason move for Green Bay and shifts the spotlight onto how quickly he integrates into the team's defensive scheme. He emphasized gratitude for the reception at Lambeau and pledged to respond to the investment made to bring him to Green Bay.

Green Bay will seek to build on the opening-game win as the season continues; Parsons said he plans to give the team everything he has as they pursue more victories.