Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons wants to be NFL’s best player in 2022, greatest player
Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons has been asked incessantly since the end of his sensational rookie season about what his expectations were for his sophomore campaign.
Parsons set the NFL on fire after being picked 11th overall in 2021. Lining up all all over the defense, but primarily playing linebacker and rush end, Parsons fashioned one of the finest rookie seasons in NFL history.
He led the Cowboys with 13 sacks, one shy of the NFL rookie record, en route to winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Honors and finished second in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting.
With a little over a week before the Sept. 11 season opener, a maturer, calmer and more comfortable Parsons is crystal clear on who he is and his expectations for the 2022 season.
Despite all of his success as a rookie, Parsons says he wasn’t himself last year.
“I would say last year I was trying to find myself,” Parsons said. “This year, I know exactly who I need to be.”
Who is that?
“The best player in the league,” Parsons continued. “I don’t want to be anything short of that. That is the type of confidence I have. I want to be the best. When you are young, sometimes it’s hard to try to find your place in the league, find trust and build respect within the guys. I want to be feared.
“Last year I didn’t tap into my real self. I feel great. I know where I need to be. I want to be the best player in the league.”
Parsons said his success as a rookie has given him the confidence to know that he can accomplish his goal.
He repeated that 2021 was just the tip of the iceberg for him. His aspirations are much higher.
“That’s cool. That wasn’t me,” Parsons said when reminded of winning rookie of year honors and finishing second as defensive player of the year. “I’m not just saying the best defensive player. I want to be the greatest. That is the kind of mindset that I have and the confidence.”
Parsons is on record saying he wants to break the NFL record of 22.5 and notch at least 23 sacks in 2022.
He said defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is going to put him in position to be great. He will have a larger role as off the ball linebacker, edge rusher and blitzer.
“The role has definitely expanded. I just gotta own it,” Parsons said.
Parsons said his mindset of being the league’s best player is not based on stats and personal accolades. And that is what he has learned the most since the end of his rookie season and where he says he has displayed the most growth at the ripe old age of 23.
“Yeah, you don’t always get everything you want to. I can do all the things I want to do. But it’s not about me,” Parsons said. “I have to make everyone around me better. I have to be one of those players guys can lean on in big moments. That is what that means.
“That is why I say mindset. Being the best player in the league leads your teams to championships and having the best defense. That is what it means. If I can do that then I know we can have a great defense.”
And he can take step toward being the league’s best player en route to be being the greatest.
This story was originally published September 2, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
