The postseason awards continue to roll in for Cowboys All-Pro rookie LB Micah Parsons. On Tuesday, the 12th overall pick was named Pro Football Writers’ overall rookie of the year as well as defensive rookie of the year.
In winning rookie of the year, Parsons joins Tony Dorsett and Ezekiel Elliott as the third Cowboys player to earn this award. Parsons is the first Cowboys defender to win this award, and would be just the second in team history to win NFL DPOY.
Parsons joins a strong list of former rookies that continue to play at a high level around the league, something the Cowboys will of course be counting on from the player that turned their defense around in one season. Chase Young, Nick Bosa, and Darius Leonard were the past three winners.
Micah Parsons has been voted the 2021 NFL Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by @PFWAwriters. Parsons is the third Cowboys player selected as the PFWA’s Rookie of the Year (Tony Dorsett in 1977, Ezekiel Elliott in 2016) and the first to receive DPOY. pic.twitter.com/2BpL2o9qMy
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) January 25, 2022
The overall rookie of the year award for Parsons is even more prestigious, going to a defensive player for just the second time since 1991. Nick Bosa won this honor in 2019, snapping a streak of all RBs and QBs from 2015-20.
Micah Parsons has played with the poise and confidence of an NFL veteran since joining the Cowboys, and should be in line for much more than just rookie awards as his career progresses. Some early mock drafts for the Cowboys have the team adding to their strength at LB with Parsons by taking another athletic, rangy second-level defender.
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year award will be announced on Thursday, February 10th. Aaron Donald, TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, and Parsons are some of the favorites for this award. Donald is the only player in Championship Weekend, as the Rams host the 49ers.
