The Green Bay Packers will open their season on Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. The Packers and Lions have always had a rivalry, but it's intensified over the last few years as the Lions have become playoff contenders.
In 2025, there will be a big addition to the rivalry on the defensive side of the ball for the Packers. Green Bay traded for former Dallas Cowboys and Penn State star pass rusher Micah Parson a week before the 2025 regular season gets underway, and he's ready for the rivalry.
Parsons spoke with reporters on Thursday afternoon and sent a message to the Lions ahead of their Week 1 matchup.
Parsons Has 'Never Liked Detroit'
Parsons played the first four years of his career in Dallas, and became very familiar with the Cowboys' rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles. However, his dislike for Detroit was always there.
"I felt like Dallas and Detroit already had a rivalry. I already got that rivalry built up. Bro, I'm excited to play them. I never liked Detroit. I never liked them, even when I was in Dallas," Parsons said. "It was just always a heavyweight fight every time they came in. I'm excited to play them. I know they're excited. And it's going to go all 12 to 15 rounds."
The Packers and Lions will be a marquee matchup on the late-game slate on Sunday, and Parsons just added fuel to the fire.
The Lions have won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams, and each of the last three games played at Lambeau Field. However, the Packers didn't have the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro on their defense for any of those matchups.
“I’ve never liked Detroit. I’ve never liked them. Even when I was in Dallas.”
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) September 4, 2025
Micah Parsons will have no problem fitting in with #Packers. He also calls trick plays a “scared tactic.”
“Trick plays are for people who can’t beat you straight up.” pic.twitter.com/NJr0y02ysf
Parsons was also asked about trick plays, one of the staples of Lions' head coach Dan Campbell's team. The former first round pick didn't hold back when answering that question either.
"Trick plays are for people who can't beat you straight up. It's like a guy running around the ring all day trying to jab, but meet me in the middle, you know what I mean? Let's line it up. I think that's what guys who try trick plays do," Parsons said. "They can't beat you head up. They don't want to out-physical you, they don't want to be dominant. It's a scared tactic, I guess. But, you know, I can beat you any which way."
Parsons isn't lacking confidence as he prepares for his first game in green and gold, and Packers' fans hope that confidence translates to success on the field.
With the addition of the former Penn State star, the Packers have their sights set on a Super Bowl run in 2025. The Packers and Lions currently have the fifth and sixth best odds to win Super Bowl XL depending on which sportsbook you look at.