Micah Parsons insisted until the end that he was willing to stay with the Dallas Cowboys for life, but Cowboys fans might have noticed the All-Pro had an unusual relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles during his time in Dallas.
While Parsons stayed loyal to the Cowboys, he remained friendly with the Eagles even as he played for a franchise that was supposed to despise its NFC East rival. Parsons grew up in Pennsylvania and viewed them as his hometown team.
That tune changed publicly in 2024, with Parsons saying of the Eagles, "F— them. I hate them now." After he requested a trade, however, one report claimed the Eagles were one of Parsons' two preferred destinations, along with the Green Bay Packers.
When the Cowboys traded Parsons to Green Bay, they found a creative way to ensure he doesn't find his way to his other preferred destination.
Here's what you need to know about the "poison pill" in the Parsons blockbuster trade.
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Micah Parsons 'poison pill' explained
The Cowboys included a stipulation in August's Parsons trade that requires the Packers to give them their 2028 first-round pick if the former All-Pro is traded to an NFC East team, ESPN reported Sunday.
The "poison pill" effectively prevents the Packers from dealing Parsons to the Eagles, New York Giants, or Washington Commanders over the next three years, though the Eagles are the obvious target behind the stipulation after Philadelphia attempted to trade for Parsons before the season.
The Packers included a poison pill of their own, including a clause that would force the Cowboys to give up their 2028 first-round pick if DT Kenny Clark was traded to an NFC North team.
Parsons has been friendly with the Eagles during his time in the NFL, but he revealed after his rookie season that he had no interest in playing in Philadelphia when the draft came around in 2021. "Bro, I do not want to play at home," Parsons said, recounting his thought process leading up to the draft.
Somewhere along the way, that sentiment might have changed a bit. The Eagles were one of Parsons' two preferred destinations after he requested a trade out of Dallas, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported. For at least a few years, Parsons won't have that opportunity.
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What is a 'poison pill' in NFL?
A poison pill is any clause in a contract or trade that prevents or at least makes it more difficult for a team to perform some kind of action. In this case, the poison pill effectively prevents the Packers from dealing Parsons to the Eagles by making the cost just too high for a move to be realistic.
Poison pills are common in the NBA with restricted free agents, who can sign offer sheets with any team but must give their former team the chance to match any offer. Teams will often structure their offer sheet to make it as difficult as possible for the competing team to match.
The Parsons situation is quite different, if only because it prevents a scenario that likely never would have happened. The Packers have invested plenty in Parsons and don't figure to have any interest in moving on from him at any point in the near future as they try to compete for championships.
MORE: Full contract details for Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons trade details
Packers receive:
- DE Micah Parsons
Cowboys receive:
- 2026 first-round pick
- 2027 first-round pick
- DT Kenny Clark
The Packers sent their next two first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark to the Cowboys for Parsons, who signed the largest contract by a non-quarterback in NFL history upon completion of the deal.
The picks were the biggest prizes for Dallas. The deal left the Cowboys with two first-round picks in both 2026 and 2027, though they already traded the higher of their two 2027 picks to the New York Jets for Quinnen Williams in a recent swap.