IMAGE: Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) celebrates after sacking Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the game at Lambeau Field. / USA TODAY NETWORK-USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Micah Parsons Makes NFL History in Packers’ Thanksgiving Day Win Over Lions
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On a day when the NFL spotlight shines brightest, Micah Parsons delivered a performance that won’t soon be forgotten. In the Packers’ 31-24 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, the star defensive end didn’t just dominate-he made history.
Parsons racked up 2.5 sacks, eight tackles, four quarterback hits, and 10 total pressures, wreaking havoc on Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense from start to finish. The win pushed Green Bay to 8-3-1, but the bigger story was Parsons etching his name into the NFL record books.
With his 2.5-sack outing, Parsons reached 12.5 sacks on the season, becoming the first player in league history to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first five seasons. That’s not just elite-it’s unprecedented. He now stands alone, surpassing even the likes of Reggie White, who had previously shared that rare mark of double-digit sacks in each of his first five years.
Let’s put that into perspective. Parsons opened his career with sack totals of 13, 13.5, 14, and 12 over four seasons in Dallas.
That stretch earned him four Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team All-Pro selections. Now, in his first year with Green Bay, he’s taken things up another level-both statistically and in terms of impact.
And it’s not just the numbers. It’s how he’s doing it.
Parsons pressured Goff on 38.5% of his pass-rushing snaps-his highest rate in a single game since his rookie year. He was a game-wrecker on key downs, including a third-and-15 sack early in the contest, a fourth-and-2 stop in the third quarter, and two sacks on Detroit’s final drive that forced them to settle for a field goal instead of a potential game-tying touchdown. When the Lions needed answers, Parsons had all the questions.
After the game, Parsons gave credit where he felt it was due.
“It’s really a shout to my teammates, every person I play with, they’re a testament to all. You can’t do it by yourself,” he said. “I’m just so thankful and blessed to be a part of history and doing it with the Green Bay Packers, someone that has such a rich history.”
That blend of humility and hunger has come to define Parsons. When asked about becoming the first player with 12 or more sacks in each of his first five years, he didn’t pause.
“How can we get to six? That’s the mindset,” he said.
“And then it’s like, once you do six, how do you get to seven? How do I keep improving?
How do I continue to get better?”
That’s the kind of mentality that turns great players into legends.
Green Bay certainly bet big on Parsons. The Packers traded two first-round picks and veteran defensive lineman Kenny Clark to bring him in from Dallas, then signed him to a four-year, $188 million extension-the richest contract ever for a non-quarterback. So far, he’s been worth every penny.
In the last seven games alone, Parsons has piled up 10 sacks. He’s the engine behind a Packers defense that ranks top-four in the league in both total yards and points allowed. His 12.5 sacks account for a large chunk of the team’s 32 total sacks this season, and his presence has elevated the entire front seven.
But Parsons wasn’t the only Packer making noise on Thursday.
Jordan Love matched Brett Favre’s franchise record with four touchdown passes on Thanksgiving, while receivers Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson combined for over 170 yards and three scores. It was a statement win for Green Bay, who swept the Lions for the first time since 2020.
Still, the moment belonged to Parsons. His 8.5 career sacks on Thanksgiving now tie the NFL record for most on the holiday, according to Next Gen Stats. And even in the midst of celebration, he made sure to acknowledge teammate Devonte Wyatt, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury during the game.
With five games left on the schedule, Parsons is on pace for a career-high 17.5 sacks. But if his postgame comments are any indication, he’s not just chasing numbers-he’s chasing greatness.
And right now, he’s closing in fast.
