Reportedly little progress made on new deal.
The Person Responsible for Slowing Down Micah Parsons’ Contract Talks with Jerry Jones Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With just five weeks remaining until the Dallas Cowboys open their 2025 regular season, defensive superstar Micah Parsons remains without a new contract.
The expectation all offseason was that Dallas would lock up the 26-year-old pass rusher with a record-setting extension. However, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the momentum has stalled dramatically, and the reason is largely due to who entered the negotiation room.
Schefter explained on ESPN’s “Get Up” that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Parsons had been making solid progress toward a deal when the player’s agent, David Mulugheta, entered the picture.
Once that happened, meaningful dialogue reportedly stopped. Despite early optimism from Jones, the tone has shifted, with no recent offers exchanged and Dallas failing to return calls from Mulugheta.
Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons Had Initial Contract Momentum
Jerry Jones, 82, has long preferred to negotiate directly with his top stars — a practice that led to quick deals in the past with players like Ezekiel Elliott and Dez Bryant.
That same dynamic seemed to be working with Parsons, the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Pro. The two reportedly made “enough progress that it was difficult to walk that back,” according to Schefter.
.@AdamSchefter says Micah Parsons' contract negotiations slowed once his agent was a part of negotiations 🤔
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) July 31, 2025
"Jerry [Jones] has had a history of ... doing deals with his very top players by himself. ... He and Micah made enough progress that it was difficult to walk that back." pic.twitter.com/6HIwGU2zF1
But Parsons’ insistence on involving his agent reflects a shift in player empowerment, even for a team with as much centralized ownership influence as Dallas.
Since Mulugheta’s involvement began, no new progress has been reported. Parsons, who posted 12 sacks in 2024, has reported to training camp but is not participating in drills.
Future Outlook for Parsons’ Contract and Cowboys’ Strategy
Schefter cautioned that while many around the league still believe a deal will eventually get done, it’s no longer viewed as inevitable.
Stephen Jones, the Cowboys’ executive VP and Jerry’s son, has taken a more formal role in contract management in recent years, but his public silence on the Parsons situation has drawn criticism.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith recently called out Stephen Jones’ leadership, suggesting the elder Jones’ absence might be the only reason talks haven’t progressed. For now, the Cowboys must balance urgency with leverage, knowing the longer this drags out, the more leverage Parsons may gain.
The clock is ticking in Dallas, and the Cowboys’ most disruptive defensive talent still doesn’t have a contract or a clear timeline.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
