The Cowboys had the good vibes flowing in the offseason, but when Micah Parsons was traded a week before the season, the entire outlook for 2025 changed.
Brian Schottenheimer's first year as Dallas Cowboys head coach was - in terms of the final product - a mediocre - one.
There were good moments for the first-year head coach, such as the wins over the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, as the offense looked top-tier.
But the defense was horrific under now-fired coordinator Matt Eberflus.
However, there was a move that likely played a role in that - the trade of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.
Micah was Dallas' defensive centerpiece, and one player Eberflus was going to build around. But a few days before Week 1, his wish was granted and was sent away.
For some critics, the positive energy and vibes created by Schottenheimer and his coaching staff were sucked out of the franchise and fan base.
Was it the right move? Only time will tell as Micah deals with his ACL injury in Green Bay while gobbling up $47 million APY in salary.
Meanwhile, to Sports Illustrated's Gilberto Manzano, Jerry threw away the entire 2025 season the moment he signed off on Micah's trade.
"Plain and simple, Jones threw away the season after trading Parsons to the Packers," Manzano wrote. "Maybe the blockbuster move helps the team’s future, but the Cowboys are going to need to hit on their draft picks in 2026 to quickly repair an atrocious defense."
Is there any truth to that? Maybe ... but it is in no way "plain and simple.''
What was one of Dallas' biggest weaknesses in 2025? Rushing the passer.
Yes, Jadeveon Clowney (8.5 sacks), James Houston (5.5 sacks), did their best, but so often quarterbacks had their best outings against Eberflus' defense. Why? Because they had all day to throw.
Now, would Micah have helped the Cowboys' defense not be one of the worst in football? You could make that case.
Yes, there were upticks in performance, but those were just a sugar hit.
Prior to the 2024 season, our own Mike Fisher spoke of the "Blow It Up" concept.
The Cowboys allowed several players to walk out the door and didn't replace them.
Was 2025 a continuation of "BIU'' with Parsons being traded? Nah ... as the trade for Quinnen Williams shuts that idea down.
But ...
The move to trade Parsons was an eye-opener, with many thinking that a deal would get done for the generational pass-rusher. ("Many,'' including Jerry Jones himself.)
But no, Jerry didn't really "throw away'' the 2025 season when he pulled the trigger on the Parsons trade a week before the season? At the same time, the only way to make such criticism evaporate is for the 2026 Cowboys to use the draft or free agency to find "The Next Micah.''