The Dallas Cowboys' trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers was a big story in its own right, but many were enthralled by the odd fact that Jerry Jones repeatedly called his now-former player by the wrong name in the immediate aftermath. As strange as it may have been, one insider believes the gaffe was proof that Jones was trying to recreate a former relationship he had with Michael Irvin.

Fans on social media joked that Jones either did not know Parsons' real name or had forgotten due to his age. However, Jones might have been trying to treat Parsons like Irvin the entire time, according to Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill.

“I think [Jerry Jones] wanted [Micah Parsons] to be his [Michael Irvin] of this generation,” Hill said on ‘The Exhibit' podcast. “He and Michael came into the league together… They had a lot of success, won a lot of titles. They have a long-lasting bond; they have a lifetime relationship. He wanted Micah to have that type of relationship with him, and he thought he had that. Micah's one of four guys that has his cell phone number. He wanted Micah to be his Michael.”

There is no secret that Irvin is one of Jones' favorite players of all time. The Hall of Famer spent his entire 12-year career with the Cowboys and was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in 2005.

Cowboys GM Jerry Jones has no regret in Micah Parsons trade

Article Continues Below
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones meets with outside linebacker Micah Parsons (11) prior to the NFC Wild Card playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers at AT&T Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

As devastating as the Parsons trade was for the team, Jones appears to have no regrets about the situation. Parsons made it clear that his issue is with Jones more than anybody else, but the owner does not seem to wish that he did anything differently.

Aside from calling Parsons “Michael,” Jones discussed how much he liked the trade in the press conference. He believes the package he received for Parsons — defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two future first-round picks — is more than enough to keep his team in title contention.

The Cowboys and Packers will have a chance to prove who won the trade early in the 2025 season. The teams meet at AT&T Stadium in Week 4, where Parsons will play in front of the Dallas crowd for the first time as an opponent.