Micah Parsons almost ended up in Philadelphia, he told AJ Brown during a live podcast in San Francisco — and he revealed the reason that deal didn’t happen. Parsons said the Eagles were close to acquiring him last season and that he was seriously considering the move, but he didn’t want to join the team unless he could play alongside defensive tackle Jalen Carter. According to Parsons, the Eagles were pursuing a defensive tackle and were willing to trade for Parsons plus some draft picks, but he wanted to be next to “JC,” so the deal fell through. He added that it was a near miss that could have changed things for everyone involved. (Parsons’ comments about Philadelphia begin around the 6:15 mark of the podcast.)
Reports back this up: Philadelphia showed interest in the edge rusher before Dallas ultimately traded Parsons to Green Bay in August. Dallas also tried to protect itself against Parsons landing in a division rival — ESPN reported a condition in the trade that would force Green Bay to send a 2028 first-round pick to Dallas if Parsons were dealt to an NFC East team before the end of the 2026 season.
The Cowboys clearly prioritized interior defense after the trade, acquiring Kenny Clark from Green Bay in the deal that sent Parsons away and later bolstering the inside by adding Quinnen Williams at the trade deadline. Parsons’ comments naturally spark “what if?” scenarios for both fanbases: would Philadelphia’s defense—and its Super Bowl chances—look different with Parsons on the roster (the Eagles finished 13th in total defense)? Could he have changed the outcome of their playoff loss to San Francisco?
Parsons himself had an up-and-down first season in Green Bay before a Week 15 ACL tear ended his year. In 14 games he posted 12.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 41 tackles. And as Parsons acknowledged, Jalen Carter’s presence would have been a tangible gain for Dallas as well — Carter finished the season with 33 tackles, three sacks, five tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, seven passes defensed and his second Pro Bowl nod — numbers that might have helped a Cowboys team that finished 7-9-1 and missed the playoffs.
Fan take: This near-swap underscores how one personnel decision can shift competitive balance across the league — a Parsons-in-Philadelphia scenario would have rewritten narratives for both NFC East contenders. For fans, it’s a reminder that offseason maneuvers and protected trade clauses can have long-lasting ripple effects on team trajectories and the broader NFL landscape.
