In the Vikings Blowout, Packers Star Micah Parsons Makes NFL History – Then Quietly Leaves Early to Keep a Promise to a Fallen Friend
Green Bay, Wisconsin – On the field, Micah Parsons had just written his name into NFL history. With two sacks on J.J. McCarthy, he spearheaded a defensive performance that smothered the Minnesota Vikings, holding them to just 6 points in a 23–6 beatdown. Lambeau Field exploded, teammates roared, Packers fans chanted his name. But when the final whistle blew, the hero of the game was nowhere to be seen at the celebration.
Inside the locker room, reporters waited for Parsons to walk in, ready with every question about his new milestone: becoming one of the rare pass rushers in NFL history to open his career with five straight seasons of double-digit sacks. Yet when the postgame interview list was posted, Micah Parsons’ name was unexpectedly missing. “Micah requested to leave early for personal reasons,” a team representative said briefly, only adding to the mystery.
According to internal sources, Micah wasn’t injured, and there was no contract dispute or locker-room conflict. He left Lambeau Field as soon as he finished his postgame medical check, changed in a hurry while the victory music still pounded in the background, then headed straight to the airport. His destination: Dallas, Texas – not for a party, not for a commercial shoot, but to see a pregnant woman quietly waiting for him.
That woman is the girlfriend of Marshawn Kneeland – Parsons’ closest former teammate, who passed away in a tragic accident not long ago (within this fictional context). The two had once been a devastating one-two punch in the front seven, side by side at practice, in meeting rooms, and off the field. On the day they laid Kneeland to rest, Parsons stood over the casket, gripped her hand, and whispered: “If anything ever happens to you, I’ll take care of her. I promise.”
When he found out she was pregnant with Kneeland’s first child, Parsons has barely missed a single important prenatal appointment. The NFL schedule is brutal, but he’s done everything he can to make sure that whenever there’s a day off after a game, he’s on a flight to Dallas—sitting quietly in a hospital waiting room, signing forms, listening to doctors break things down, doing all the things his late friend will never get the chance to do.
The blowout win over the Vikings happened to fall in the same week she reached a crucial stage in her pregnancy – an appointment the doctor clearly labeled as important: “You should be here, if anyone in the family can make it.” For Parsons, that wasn’t a suggestion. It was a responsibility. So even after making NFL history, he still went to the head coach and front office to ask permission to leave the team early so he could catch a late-night flight to Dallas.
In the locker room, many teammates initially had no idea why Parsons had vanished so quickly. Only when the story was shared did the noisy atmosphere suddenly soften. “He’s ‘the closer’ on the field, but off it, he’s one of the most loyal guys you’ll ever meet,” one player said quietly. “Records can be replayed on TV a hundred times, but keeping a promise to a brother who’s gone— that’s what really defines who Micah is.”
Sources say that after landing in Dallas, Parsons didn’t ask for a private driver or a PR entourage. He grabbed a ride on his own to the hospital, sat beside her in the exam room, and listened as the baby’s heartbeat echoed from the ultrasound monitor. “Every time he hears that heartbeat, he feels like Kneeland is still somewhere in the room,” a close associate shared. “Micah always says, ‘This is the part Marshawn was supposed to experience. I’m just stepping in to do what a father, what a man, is supposed to do.’”
Parsons has never gone public with this story. To him, it’s a family matter, a brotherhood thing— not material to polish a public image. Those quiet actions stand in stark contrast to the bright lights he walks under every weekend. But maybe that gap is exactly what shows how complex and layered Micah really is: a cold-blooded defensive superstar hunting quarterbacks on Sundays, yet someone who gives up his off days to sit beside a woman trying to be strong for two people.
The Green Bay Packers are charging toward a playoff berth with an impressive résumé, and Micah Parsons is steadily climbing the all-time ladder of NFL pass rushers. But to the people who truly know him, sack totals and nine-figure contracts are just one chapter of his story. The more important part is in those late-night plane tickets, the worn-out hospital chairs, the silent FaceTime calls between him and a photo of Marshawn on the screen.
One day, the baby who’s about to be born in Dallas will grow up, open YouTube, and watch Micah Parsons’ highlights, read about his records and defensive awards. But when they learn that “Uncle Micah” skipped so many celebrations, ignored so many headlines just to be there for their mom throughout the pregnancy— that might be the “achievement” that makes Marshawn Kneeland, wherever he is above, and everyone still here on earth, the most proud of all.
Broncos Predicted to Cut Ties With 1,000-Yard RB
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Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins.
It should have come as no surprise that Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins has been so productive since signing a 1-year, $2.065 million contract with the team in June.
Dobbins leads the Broncos with 772 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns and is averaging a robust 5.0 yards per carry.
It should also come as no surprise that Dobbins is now hurt, and was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury that will almost certainly end his season.
“The move likely ends Dobbins’ season if the Broncos don’t make it to the Super Bowl, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter,” ESPN’s Jeff Legwold wrote on November 15. “Dobbins suffered the injury in the third quarter of last week’s 10-7 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders and has already undergone surgery.”
Dobbins’ Career Has Been Dogged by Injuries
Injuries have been the defining story of Dobbins’ career so far. It’s also the reason the Broncos need to probably already start looking at next year’s free agent market to bring in another veteran, on another 1-year deal, and preferably find someone who is a little more durable than Dobbins.
“I was told JK Dobbins had surgery already on a Lisfranc injury suffered against the Raiders,” CBS Sports NFL reporter Tracy Wolfson wrote on her official X account. “He is expected to be out for the season. Huge loss for the Broncos on and off the field. Dobbins was putting together a tremendous season in a contract year.”
It’s not the first time Dobbins has suffered a season ending injury.
Dobbins rushed for 805 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie in 2020, then played just 9 games over the next 3 seasons due to injuries, including missing the entire 2021 season with an ACL tear suffered in the final preseason game.
Dobbins returned from his injury to play 8 games in 2022, but tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1 of the 2023 regular season. He played for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and missed 4 games due to an MCL sprain but still put over 1,000 yards of total offense.
Broncos Went Against Draft Predictions
The Broncos had 2 huge question marks at running back and tight end following the 2024 season, when Denver went 10-7 in the regular season and made a surprise playoff run despite getting essentially zero productivity from either position group.
Draft experts had the Broncos pegged as filling one of those holes in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft but bucked expert opinions by selecting Texas cornerback and Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron at No. 20 overall.
While the jury is still out on Barron, we’re about to find out very quickly what the Broncos have in rookie running back and 2025 second round pick (No. 60 overall) RJ Harvey, who has 439 yards of total offense and 6 touchdowns.
The Broncos are 9-2 and winners of 8 consecutive games. They travel to face the Washington Commanders in Week 13.
“The whole NFL seems like they’re doubting us, but we’re going to keep proving them wrong and winning games,” Harvey said after the Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.
