Jerry Jones Goes Nuclear on Micah Parsons’ Agent as Cowboys Feud Turns Ugly
The drama between the Dallas Cowboys and star pass rusher Micah Parsons has reached a boiling point — and Jerry Jones is fanning the flames.
On Thursday, the Cowboys owner showed two drastically different sides of himself. In the morning, Jones praised Parsons on Fox News, calling him “a great player, not a good player,” and stressing his importance to the team’s future. But by afternoon, while chatting with Cowboys legend Michael Irvin on YouTube, Jones launched into a scorched-earth tirade aimed squarely at Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, and revealed eye-popping details of failed negotiations.
The Offer and the Threats
Jones claimed he offered Parsons a record deal: more guaranteed money than any defensive player in NFL history. For context, Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt currently holds that mark with $108 million guaranteed. Before Watt’s deal, San Francisco 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa was at the top with $88 million.
But according to Jones, Parsons’ camp — specifically his agent — rejected the handshake agreement Jones believed he had sealed back in March.
“Come over to the office and I’ll show you exactly what we offered Micah,” Jones said. “We had our agreements on term, amount, guarantees, everything. When we wanted to send the details to the agent, the agent told us to stick it up our ass.”
Jones also warned he would not hesitate to use the franchise tag twice after Parsons’ rookie deal expires at the end of this season, effectively locking him into three more years in Dallas whether he signs an extension or not.
“At some point, somebody has to have the say over the other,” Jones said. “My job is managing the check. Micah’s got to do the playing.”
Targeting the Agent
Jones placed the blame squarely on Mulugheta, accusing him of pursuing his own agenda rather than acting in Parsons’ best interest.
“The least important part of this whole equation? The attorney or the agent,” Jones declared. “They’re in here to make their percentage … so many times in this industry, you’ve got another agenda going on with agents.”
Such comments are almost unheard of in NFL circles. Most owners avoid airing dirty laundry in public, but Jones — with a Netflix series highlighting his business dealings currently streaming — is clearly comfortable playing negotiations out in the spotlight.
Parsons’ Cryptic Response
Parsons has remained mostly quiet during the stalemate, but he appeared to send messages through social media Thursday. First, he posted a Bible verse from the Book of Micah, then scrubbed mentions of the Cowboys from his profiles. Later, he uploaded a TikTok with Allen Iverson’s famous “Ima win wherever I go” rant, along with photos of himself seemingly waving goodbye.
It was as close to a public rebuke as the 26-year-old has given during the dispute.
What’s at Stake
The Cowboys are set to pay Parsons $24 million this season, the final year of his rookie deal. Parsons, the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, has lived up to every ounce of hype: Defensive Rookie of the Year, at least 12 sacks each season, and a total of 52.5 sacks in just 63 games. He is widely regarded as one of the most dominant defenders in football — and he wants to be compensated accordingly.
Jones has been here before. He slow-played extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, ultimately paying both after drawn-out negotiations. But insiders say this dispute feels different. ESPN’s Adam Schefter even reported, “It sounds like at this point it’s personal.”
The Bottom Line
Whether Jones is posturing or digging in for a prolonged fight, his public attacks on Parsons’ agent have only heightened tensions. Parsons appears less committed than ever to staying in Dallas long-term.
For now, Cowboys fans are left to wonder: will one of the NFL’s most feared defenders still be wearing the star on his helmet when the dust settles — or has Jerry Jones gone too far this time?
