Micah Parsons loves watching wild animal videos. He enjoys seeing the chase of a lion stalking its prey in the wild and the victory when it takes down its prey.
He is always on the chase. It does not stop. Since sacks became an official stat in 1982, only six players have had more in their first two seasons than Parsons' 26.5.
He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned two All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods and was twice a runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.
As Parsons enters his third season, he is on the hunt for a lot of things -- but greatness in particular.
"I've come to this mindset where I'm just tired of being second, tired of coming up short," Parsons said. "What can I do every day to put myself in the best position to say, like, 'I can live with that'?
"So far, I haven't been able to live with the fact that us losing 19-12 [in the 2022 playoffs at the San Francisco 49ers]
and that wild-card game our rookie year. I told this to the guys: 'Is the price of discipline worth a lifetime of regret?' And for me, it just [isn't]."
To do his part, Parsons developed an offseason plan he believes has him prepared to take his game to another level when the Cowboys kick off their campaign on Sept. 10 at the New York Giants (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC).
First, Parsons stayed away from the beginning of the Cowboys' voluntary offseason program in mid-April to work out with an acclaimed trainer and former collegiate track star at The Kollective,
a private gym in Austin, Texas. While there, he also worked with a four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle to "get into the offensive mind."
And upon returning to Frisco in May, he immersed himself in boxing with a five-time Dallas Golden Gloves champion to strengthen his hand-eye coordination and footwork.
The offseason plan was all designed for Parsons's chase of a Super Bowl championship.
"I don't think anybody in here would deny that I'm a special player," Parsons said.
"But I believe that you kind of need your own plan. You kind of need your own unique way to get you to where you want to be.
"But I believe that you kind of need your own plan. You kind of need your own unique way to get you to where you want to be.
bring that determination and just really isolate myself and get away from everybody and just show people, 'Hey, I'm going to come back and be the best player I can be.'"