Mike McCarthy reacts to Micah Parsons debut with Packers: 'He was like a caged lion'

Mike McCarthy loved what he saw from Micah Parsons in his first game as a member of the Green Bay Packers. While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, the former Packers head coach reacted to Parsons helping the Packers beat the Detroit Lions in the season opener last weekend.

“There’s definitely a big buzz.  Everywhere I know I go, that’s the first or second question: how’s Micah doing? How’s he going to be here in Green Bay?” McCarthy said. “Being at the game, definitely felt the buzz. …I got a kick out of watching him on the sidelines because he was chomping at the bit. He was like a caged lion getting ready to go in there.

“From the first time he got in at that first third down, Micah has an effect. The defensive backs are definitely going to benefit from it in pass defense, and definitely, the guys up front. I was very impressed with the Packers. I thought they played at a really high level from the start of the game all the way through, and I was very impressed with the defensive front.”

Parsons played in 45 percent of the defensive snaps on Sunday and finished with one sack and three defensive pressures. He joined Green Bay after the Dallas Cowboys traded him to the franchise before the start of the season.

Mike McCarthy believes Cowboys and Packers will benefit from Micah Parsons trade

McCarthy knows Parsons well, as he was the Cowboys’ head coach from 2020 to 2024. Last week, McCarthy shared his reaction to the Cowboys trading Parsons on The Pat McAfee Show.

“The old saying in business is time kills deals,” McCarthy stated. “…I always felt, ‘Hey, no, they’re going to get it done. They’re going to get it done. This is the businessman. Jerry keeping the Cowboys at the front of the news cycle.’ Just didn’t really pay much mind to it.

“As this thing went on longer and longer, any time business transactions are held up, there’s more emotions that come into play here, and this is what can happen. …I just felt this was a deal that took too long. Frankly, I think both sides will benefit.”

The Packers sent two first-round draft picks and Kenny Clark to the Cowboys in exchange for Parsons. The team then signed the former Penn State star to a four-year, $188 million contract, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.