Micah Parsons named NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year
Micah Parsons‘ whirlwind debut season in the NFL ended the only way it could have.
In Los Angeles for the NFL Honors awards ceremony, Parsons nabbed a top honor. As announced by singer Kelly Clarkson, Parsons was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
And, upon taking the stage to accept the award, Parsons immediately shouted out his Penn State family, with calls of We Are! directed toward the stage.
“We are,” Parsons said. “First off, I’d just like to thank God. Without God, I really wouldn’t be here. I’m a strong believer in God and walking humbly.
“I’d like to thank my family. I got my mother in the stands and my son, who had to take a potty break. I get it. This is all incredible.
“Thank you to Cowboys nation. Ya’ll really believed in me, ya’ll drafted me. I couldn’t be any more thankful.
“I’m always big where I come from, so shout out to Harrisburg, Pa. man. This is for the city, this is for all the kids back in the ‘Burg, this is hope that we can all do it one day. And I hope ya’ll just keep following. Thakn you guys.
Micah Parsons accepts NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors
The honor capped a massive year for Micah Parsons at the NFL level.
Beating out Denver Broncos rookie defender Patrick Surtain II, Parsons was announced as a unanimous pick for the award.
That dominant place in the voting likely had everything to do with just how dominant Parsons proved to be in 2021. For the season, Micah Parsons finished with 84 tackles and 13 sacks in 16 games played with the Cowboys. An elite performance among all rookies, it was also considered among the best in the NFL.
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Among three finalists for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, Parsons ultimately lost out to Pittsburgh Steelers defender T.J. Watt, who notched a record 22.5 sacks this season. The other finalist for that award was Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
What he did this year
Parsons’ rise has been meteoric this season.
“Cowboys rookie Micah Parsons was an advanced metrics darling,” an NFL-produced video announced leading into the event. “He was PFF’s highest-rated linebacker, and pass rusher, and also collected the highest pressure rate of any defender in the next-gen stats era.”
Among his many highlights this season, Parsons was also named the Butkus Award winner at the professional level last week. He was also named as a rare first-team NFL All-Pro Defense selection as a rookie. On top of a Pro Bowl selection who played last Sunday in Las Vegas, Parsons had some fun while doing it.
Beating out cornerback Trevon Diggs, running back Nick Chubb, and Chiefs star wideout Tyreek Hill in a foot race, Parsons was deemed the NFL’s “Fastest Man”.
The most notable of all former Penn State performers this season, Parsons produced an elite debut. Already named an NFL All-Pro, on top of twice being named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in both November and December, Parsons’ impact went well beyond the rookie class.
