Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn admitted he was “surprised” when Micah Parsons was traded to the Green Bay Packers just one week before the 2025 NFL season kicked off.
Quinn, who coached Parsons for three years as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator (2021-2023), spoke to the media this week ahead of Washington’s Thursday night matchup at Lambeau Field.
“I was surprised that he was traded,” Quinn said. “I had an absolute blast coaching him; he brings out the mad scientist in you. To see what if he was here, how would you feature him, and what about over here? He was a player who can learn things really quickly. I was surprised that he went outside the division.”
Quinn, who oversaw Parsons’ transition from a promising rookie to one of the NFL’s most feared pass rushers, knows exactly what kind of challenge awaits his Commanders’ offensive line. When asked the toughest thing about defending Parsons, Quinn didn’t hesitate:
“Speed,” he said.
“In Dallas, he was one of our fastest players, and that’s the hardest thing to simulate for an offensive tackle. The first couple two or three steps are not at the speed that you can simulate in a practice rep. Early on, I think there’s some rushes that he can surprise some people if you haven’t faced him. He can really jump off the ball.”
Parsons entered the league in 2021 under Quinn’s watch and immediately burst onto the scene with 84 tackles, 13 sacks, and three forced fumbles. He followed it up by setting new career highs in sacks in back-to-back seasons — 13.5 in 2022 and 14 in 2023 — cementing his place as one of the NFL’s elite defensive players.
In 2024, Quinn’s first year at the helm of the Commanders’ coaching staff, Washington split a pair of games against Dallas in the regular season, where Parsons combined for 12 tackles and 4.5 sacks in two games.
Now wearing green and gold, Parsons recorded one sack in Week 1 of the 2025 season during the Packers’ 27–13 win over the Detroit Lions.
Welcome to Green Bay, Micah Parsons 🤩
DETvsGB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVntpic.twitter.com/rijPUZ6ELm
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
Thursday will mark Quinn’s third time facing Parsons across the field, but his first time as a non-divisional opponent.
The Washington will travel to Green Bay for an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff on Thursday, September 11, on a short week for a chance to start the season 2-0.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders, Dan Quinn, prepare to face Micah Parsons and Packers