Cowboys’ Micah Parsons Decries ’Scam’ of NFL Players’ Unguaranteed Contracts

Micah Parsons is calling bull on a double standard.

Following the Raiders’ firing of coach Josh McDaniels this week, the star Cowboys linebacker is pointing out that NFL coaches have guaranteed contracts even though very few players do.

McDaniels, who was in the second season of a six-year contract worth approximately $10 million per year, ultimately will receive the entire contracted amount despite a 9-16 record with the team. But players, who sacrifice their bodies on a weekly basis, do not enjoy such guarantees for the most part.

After the firing of McDaniels on Wednesday, Parsons slammed the process on social media.

“But players can’t get fully guaranteed money lol !! Shit a scam !,” Parsons posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, in reply to the McDaniels news. 

The NFL is only the organization among the major North American sports leagues that does not provide all players with fully guaranteed contracts.

Parsons is in the third year of a contract which will pay him approximately $2.2 million in base salary this season. The Cowboys are likely to pick up his fifth-year option at some point, which will keep him on the roster through 2024.

But at some point, Dallas is likely to explore signing the All-Pro edge rusher to a long-term deal that will lock up him for years to come—perhaps fully guaranteed if he has his way.