Green Bay defensive end Micah Parsons (1) helped lead the Packers to. 23-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings Sunday.
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Reggie White.
Micah Parsons.
That’s it. That’s the list.
The National Football League made sacks an official statistic in 1982, and in the first 43 seasons, the Hall of Famer White was the only player to post double digit sacks his first five seasons in the league.
Parsons joined that elite club Sunday.
Parsons had two sacks of Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy and pushed his season-total to 10.0 during the Packers’ 23-6 dismantling of the Vikings. Parsons, who was acquired from Dallas for two first round draft picks on Aug. 28, had 52.5 sacks his first four seasons with the Cowboys, posting at least 12.0 sacks every year.
“You always should be appreciative,” Parsons said of reaching double digits in sacks. “It’s such a difficult feat, I wouldn’t say it’s like a feat where it’s very easy or anything like that. But you know, it’s a standard of play.
“Me and (Dallas receiver) CeeDee Lamb used to say 1,000 yards is like the minimum. So I feel like 10 sacks for the standard of player you are, that should be the minimum you should get. For me, mine was just always 10 sacks. I’m beating (Lamb) right now.”
Parsons has beat most offensive linemen ever since entering the league as the 12th overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Parsons was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons. He was also the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021, a two-time first-team all-Pro in 2021 and 2022, and a second-team all-Pro in 2023.
Since arriving in Green Bay three months ago, Parsons given the Packers the kind of pass rusher they haven’t had since White, who had six spectacular seasons with the green and gold from 1993-‘98.
“Hey, it’s Micah Parsons man,” defensive tackle Warren Brinson said. “The guy works. The guy’s super athletic. He’s blessed by God with his God-given ability and he’s taken full advantage of it and he’s reaping the benefits of what God gave him honestly.”
Green Bay defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington agreed.
“He’s been a pleasure to work with, all the way around, from just him in the classroom, him as a person, him as an individual, him bonding and getting to know his teammates,” Covington said. “He’s been great. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He has great knowledge of the game.”
That was all on display as Parsons destroyed the Vikings with three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and a pair of sacks that led to 12 yards in losses.
On the first sack, Parsons beat left tackle Christian Darrisaw with an inside move and dumped quarterback J.J. McCarthy in 2.58 seconds. On his second sack, Parsons flew around Darrisaw and sacked McCarthy in 2.48 seconds.
Parsons pressured McCarthy all afternoon, and helped set up defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt for one of his two sacks.
“Yeah, they passed the ball,” Parsons said. “I can’t force a team to pass the ball. To be honest with you, they brought me here to pass rush. If a team wants to run 40 times a game, what is your pass rusher supposed to do? All I do is keep the edge. If I can pass rush, I can affect the game.”
Minnesota ran the ball on 17 of its 28 first half plays. After falling behind by two scores early in the third quarter, though, the Vikings had no choice but to throw the ball and the results weren’t pretty.
Minnesota and its overmatched quarterback McCarthy managed just four — that’s right, four — yards in the second half. And Green Bay had four of its five sacks, as well as two interceptions in the second half.
“We have to find ways to stop the run and work as a team to put teams in position where they can pass the ball,” Parsons said. “The mindset all is the same. I don’t think the production has slowed down any facet. When I get a chance, I win. I affect the quarterback. I do what I do, but it’s about just getting to the opportunities.”
Parsons got those opportunities Sunday.
And now, he’s in elite company with the late, great Reggie White.