Micah Parsons’ 2025 season with the Green Bay Packers was shaping up as one of the most dominant in the league before it came to a halt. He was acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Dallas Cowboys before the season and quickly became the centerpiece of Green Bay’s defense.
In 14 games, Parsons recorded 41 tackles, 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed, which earned him First‑Team All‑Pro honors for the campaign. But his season ended in disappointment when he suffered a torn left ACL in a Week 15 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
The setback forced Parsons out for the remainder of the year and leaves his return timeline uncertain as Green Bay looks ahead to 2026. The Packers were positioned as potential Super Bowl contenders before Parsons’ injury, but fell to the Chicago Bears in the wild card round in his absence.
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Beyond his impressive play on the field in 2025, Parsons emerged as a vocal leader for the Packers, rallying teammates and setting the tone for a defense that had been among the league’s most improved.
While he continues his recovery this offseason, he was dealt another dose of bad news on a topic he publicly criticized throughout last season: the controversial “tush push” play.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed Wednesday that there will be no discussion about banning the tush push at next week’s NFL owners’ meetings, meaning the play will remain legal in 2026.
This outcome stings for Parsons, who publicly opposed the play after watching the Philadelphia Eagles deploy it against the New York Giants in Week 6.
“This is not football! 🚮🚮,” the All-Pro edge rusher wrote on X.
The tush push has sparked league-wide debate in recent years, with multiple teams, including the Packers, attempting a formal ban during the 2025 season’s owners meetings. That effort fell short, and now with the play staying legal, teams will once again need to devise defensive strategies to stop it.
Despite criticism and safety concerns voiced by Parsons and others, the league’s decision to leave the tush push in the rulebook means defenders will face it head‑on again in 2026.
