Micah Parsons has seen a lot of stadiums throughout his NFL career. The Green Bay Packers supernova is one of the steadiest performers in the league, boasting a nearly even split between home and away sacks.
And yet, there's arguably no away ground that feels like home quite like Lincoln Financial Field for Parsons. He made the colosseum a home away from home while unmooring the likes of Jalen Hurts and Carson Wentz during his time with the Dallas Cowboys.
But the city — and the state that houses it — holds deeper significance for Parsons, who grew up not far from the place he has spent his career terrorizing.
With that, here’s what you need to know about Parsons’ origins, including where he is from.
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Where is Micah Parsons from?
Parsons has starred in Dallas and Green Bay during his professional career, but his heart belongs to Harrisburg, the state capital of Pennsylvania. The city sits on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, 107 miles northwest of Philadelphia. With a population of just over 50,000, Harrisburg is the ninth-most populous city in the state.
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Parsons attended Central Dauphin High School for his first two years before transferring to Harrisburg, where he completed his high school career. He was a two-way star, excelling as both a defensive end and a running back. In his senior year, Parsons recorded 1,239 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns. He also played basketball, captivating audiences with an impressive vertical leap.
Despite his proximity to the City of Brotherly Love, it's unclear whether Parsons grew up an Eagles supporter. The Dallas Morning News said in 2021 that his parents are Cowboys fans, potentially indicating that he opted to support another side. Parsons is a fairly vociferous Philadelphia sports enthusiast otherwise — he sported a Phillies jersey in Nov. 2022 and appeared court side at a 76ers game in 2023.
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Where did Micah Parsons go to college?
A five-star recruit, Parsons had a treasure trove of high-profile programs at his disposal. In the end, he opted to stay close to home, committing to Penn State over other notable sides, including Alabama and Georgia.
Former Penn State star Saquon Barkley played a role in Parsons' recruitment, he told NJ.com in 2025.
"I’ve known Micah since he was a high schooler," Barkley said. "I tried my best to help recruit him to Penn State, so we had a relationship for a very long time."
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Barkley's efforts paid off. Parsons led the Nittany Lions in tackles as a freshman, emerging as one of Penn State's most impactful defenders despite playing middle linebacker for most of the season.
His sophomore season was similarly impressive. Still at middle linebacker, Parsons’ tackle total swelled to 109, 14 of which came from behind the line of scrimmage. He recorded five sacks, 26 deflected passes, and four fumbles, earning the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award (given to the Big Ten's best linebacker) as well as a consensus spot on the All-American first team.
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Parsons capped off his sophomore year in style, taking home the 2019 Cotton Bowl Classic defensive MVP after tallying 14 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in Penn State's win over Memphis.
Parsons planned on playing the 2020 season. But concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic prompted him to opt out of the campaign and take his talents to the NFL instead. Dallas proceeded to select him with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 draft.
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Micah Parsons college stats
| Year | Games | Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles |
| 2018 | 13 | 83 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 2019 | 13 | 109 | 5.0 | 4 |
| Career | 26 | 192 | 6.5 | 6 |