Former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons inks multi-year sponsorship deal with adidas
Asked about arguably “the best football player in the world” last fall, former Penn State linebacker and current Dallas Cowboy Micah Parsons, Nittany Lions’ head coach James Franklin insisted upon making a distinction. Having recently spoken to the team, Franklin said, the primary takeaways of his message extended beyond the success of his football career.
Rather, the impact of Penn State on his life, both on the field and off, took precedence.
“He talked about the game, but he talked specifically about Penn State and this community,” said Franklin. “He’s always been super thoughtful. I love how he embraced the whole Penn State experience.
“I’m proud of him. He’s growing up to be a really well-rounded individual. Although he’s having a ridiculous amount of success when it comes to football, I think that’s going to be just a small part of Micah’s story.”
Tuesday, another chapter was added to that story.
Announced via press release, Parsons has teamed with adidas as one of its brand ambassadors. The agreement is for a multi-year partnership in which Parsons will “sport select adidas apparel and specialty footwear on the field” and “participate in brand marketing campaigns.”
Parsons joins elite company with the announcement, building onto a roster of NFL stars that also includes Patrick Mahomes, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Garrett Wilson, Chris Jones, David Njoku, Tua Tagovailoa, Aaron Jones, Trevor Lawrence, Brock Purdy, Jordan Addison, and a rookie crop of spokesmen that includes Rome Odunze, Michael Penix Jr, Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Legette.
Critical to the sponsorship, Parsons acknowledged his focus on football and beyond.
“Since day one, I’ve wanted to be a global ambassador for the game, inspiring the next generation of athletes and fans around the world,” said Parsons via the release. “It’s very clear to me that adidas is best aligned with my ambitions and career goals. The three stripes has already done so much for me and I know that this is going to be special.”
Micah Parsons makes impact after Penn State
The former five-star recruit has established himself as one of the game’s very best in his first three seasons in Dallas. Twice notching first-team All-Pro status in 2021 and 2022, Parsons was a second-team selection in 2023 en route to a third-straight Pro Bowl pick.
Over 50 career regular season games, he’s amassed 213 tackles and 40.5 sacks. They go along with seven forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and eight passes defended. In the postseason, he’s built on those stats with another 18 tackles. He’s also had a sack over four games in the past three playoffs.
The production came on the heels of a two-year Penn State career that Franklin lamented for its brevity. Arriving to the Nittany Lions in 2018, Parsons put up a combined 191 tackles over two seasons with 6.5 sacks. But, upon the August cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Parsons opted out.
He didn’t do so without first earning his degree from Penn State, though. A point of pride for Franklin years later, it’s part of a story that continues to grow.
“I wish we had him for that third year rather than canceling the football season,” said Franklin. “But I’m proud of him. I’m really proud of him for a lot of different reasons. Football is one of them, but it’s a small one.”
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