Packers Star Micah Parsons Shocks NFL by Declining MVP Honor: “The One Who Deserves This Award… Is Him.”
In a game defined by grit, defense, and heart, Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons made headlines not for his three sacks, but for what he said afterward.
Following the Packers’ thrilling 27–23 road win over the Arizona Cardinals, Parsons was named the game’s MVP by several national outlets — a recognition that seemed obvious after his relentless performance. He disrupted Kyler Murray all night, forcing key third-down stops and setting the tone for a defense that carried Green Bay through the first half.
Yet when the trophy was placed before him, Parsons shook his head and stepped away from the spotlight. “I don’t care what people say about the MVP. Every time I see my teammates hugging after the game, every time I hear the roar of Packers fans echoing through the stadium — I know I’m in the right place. That’s what truly matters.”
At first, reporters were left guessing who “him” referred to. But the answer became clear soon enough — it was running back Josh Jacobs, whose bruising 98-yard outing and two fourth-quarter touchdowns completed Green Bay’s comeback and sealed their first road victory of the year.
Jacobs’ effort — fighting through illness and a lingering calf strain — had inspired the entire locker room. After the game, teammates shared how his determination kept the offense alive when fatigue and pressure started to mount. “That’s what leadership looks like,” Parsons later added. “He never said a word, just lined up and fought every down. Guys like that make everyone better.”
Across social media, fans and analysts alike praised Parsons’ humility. One ESPN commentator wrote, “You can’t coach that kind of respect — Parsons just showed the league what a true teammate sounds like.”
Meanwhile, kicker Lucas Havrisik quietly carved his own name into Packers history, hitting a record-breaking 61-yard field goal before halftime — the longest in franchise history. That kick kept Green Bay within striking distance and set the stage for Jacobs’ late-game heroics.
When asked if he regretted giving up his MVP moment, Parsons smiled. “Stats come and go,” he said. “But when you see a guy fight like that — through pain, through pressure — you know the game belongs to him.”
On a night where records were broken and reputations were built, Micah Parsons reminded everyone what true greatness looks like — not just in power, but in humility.
And as the locker room erupted in celebration, one sentence from Parsons lingered louder than the cheers: “He deserves it more than me.”
1 Quiet Reason the Raiders' Offense Has Struggled This Season
The Las Vegas Raiders' offense has struggled this season for various reasons, mainly subpar play along the offensive line and at quarterback. However, the lack of playmakers at skill positions, for various reasons, have held the Raiders' offense back.
Raiders Rookies Must Improve
The Raiders invested a second-round pick into drafting Jack Bech, proving how much they believed in him before he ever put a Raiders jersey on. However, Bech must do his part and work through the growing pains only the Raiders' coaching staff knows about.
Bech and Dont'e Thornton were brought in to be two of those playmakers but have yet to make much of an impact. Bech's lack of playing time on an offense in desperate need of help at wide receiver speaks volumes about where Las Vegas' coaching staff believes he is developmentally.
“The more plays that we can log with the new guys, Jack [Bech] and Dont'e [Thornton Jr.], we can show them the things that they need to improve on and the things that they're not quite as sharp on. It helps them. And there's some pain in that too. There's some pain in there that we have to undergo. But it's how you do it,” Carroll said.
“By the time you get to the middle of the season, these guys should have things really cleaned up, and they should be ready to go and we can count on them and they can come through and not be error repeaters, you know? And that's what we're working hard at."
During the Bye Week, Raiders' Wide Receivers Coach Chris Beatty gave an update on the development of both of Las Vegas' wide receivers. If the Raiders can get Bech and Thornton up to speed quickly, it could alleviate some of the issues they are having on offense.
"Some ups and downs. We have got to be more consistent. Both of those guys are learning a lot. Theres good and bad in everything. First couple of games, Dont'e had an explosive play in every game," Beatty said.
"He has kind of fell back a little bit and some of the fundamentals, we have got to continue to build on. Same thing with Jack. They have done okay but there is a lot more out there. So, we will keep pushing them and getting the most out of them."
