FRISCO, Texas – While Micah Parsons isn’t ready to give up on 2024, the All-Pro pass rusher wants the Dallas Cowboys to bring back all key players for 2025, including coach Mike McCarthy.

“I’d like to have a fair chance when everyone’s back – players, coaches – because the injuries were as bad as they could really be this season,” Parsons said in an interview with ESPN that aired ahead of “Monday Night Football.” Cowboys’ matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals will air. “The injuries were terrible. And you know, it really sucks. Seeing Zack (Martin) and D-Law (DeMarcus Lawrence) not having the year he had planned. He got off to such a great start. It really sucks.” .

“As far as coaching goes, man, Coach Mike, his relationship with me has always been really good. He always took very good care of me. I just don’t know what’s going to happen with business, you know? (Owner and general manager Jerry Jones has his own take on who he wants to train. “I’m kind of a pawn in this business.”

In an interview with Yahoo Sports last week, quarterback Dak Prescott said he wants McCarthy to come back and he believes in him “with all my heart.” The head coach is in the final year of his contract. Jones recently said on 105.3 The Fan that it “wouldn’t be crazy” for McCarthy to earn an extension despite the Cowboys’ record.

Parsons has a contract for 2025 with an option for the fifth year of his rookie contract and he figures the Cowboys will make re-signing a priority after the team made Prescott the NFL’s highest-paid player and CeeDee Lamb the second-highest paid player made wide receiver.

“I’m Jerry’s guy,” Parsons said. “I think it’s going to be pretty… I know that’s easier said than done because I’m not at the table, but that’s my type. We talk about it and how much we value each side, but I know that numbers matter. But man, at the end of the day, whatever it takes to stay a cowboy until I retire, that’s what I want. And I know it will be hard conversations and reality checks, but I think I’m a good enough caliber to be here.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid defensive player at $34 million per season. Parsons is scheduled to make $21.3 million in 2025.

Parsons was asked if it was important to him if he became the highest-paid defensive player.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It really just depends on the circumstances, who we want to win, who wants to come back. I also look at it from a business perspective, you know? Whether we’re going to be aggressive and bring in players to play next to us.” Because I don’t know who I’m playing with right now other than Marshawn (Kneeland) and Sam (Williams) and Mazi (Smith). Who will be in our ring with Chauncey? (Golston) and Osa (Odighizuwa) and D-Law (possibly) not here.

“So for me it’s all about the foundation of the team, like, ‘How can I create the best foundation and play with the guys that have helped me have a lot of success?’ These guys helped me get to where I am, where I can become the highest paid player. That’s why I want as many of us as possible to be here so we can continue to have success and win seasons.

The Cowboys haven’t been very active in free agency in recent years, opting to re-sign their own players, although that has become more difficult. The Cowboys must address Prescott’s $89 million salary cap hit, but can restructure the contract to create more cap space.

“I feel like a lot of times you talk about ‘highest paid’ people and then say they don’t have guns or they don’t have them,” Parsons said. “So I’d rather just be in the best situation, you know? At this point, I don’t think there’s much of a difference in my mind between $30 million and $40 million, you know? And that’s just my opinion.”

Would his agent, David Mulugheta, agree?

“My agent might be mad at me, I even said that,” Parsons said. “But you know, as far as I’m concerned, I mean, I’m already blessed enough, brother, where I can’t complain too much in life.”