Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons went outside of his comfort zone during the offseason and he’s confident it will pay dividends in Dallas’ quest for a Super Bowl.
The 24-year-old All-Pro is entering his third NFL season and is feeling his best, both mentally and physically, after discovering pickleball and mediation, he told The Post in an exclusive interview.
“When you come in [to the season] good already, you just gotta find a little one percent to get better,” Parsons told The Post. “I’ve been practicing my mentality and doing different sports like boxing and pickleball.”
The theme of this offseason for Parsons, who recently took part in the first-ever Fanatics Merch Madness donation event, has been growth in all facets of his game.
“I’ve been doing different things to attack different areas and learn more, eating the right way to frame the body — and just trying to make myself feel as best as possible for this year,” the Penn State product said.
“It’s been a lot of mental and physical preparation. I think this might be my best offseason in terms of learning, growing and trying to be the player that I wanna be.”
In March, Parsons cut out fast food and alcohol “to lock in and become the most disciplined version of [myself].”
The strict regimen came after he enjoyed the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas, the Super Bowl in Arizona and and a postseason vacation.
Upon his return to Texas, Parsons told reporters in May he was adding bulk and weight to be a full-time defensive end this upcoming season — and later clarified that he plans to play eight positions this year.
He addressed his weight comments on Twitter in May.
“Lol people here bulk and think I’m going from 246- 270!!” Parsons wrote in a May 3 tweet. “If you seen any of my videos I’m still very slim and I’m putting on good weight! I’m standing at 252 currently!
“I will not surpass 255 at anytime in my career! This is just me putting on more muscle to carry the load!”
The 6-foot-3 Parsons, who spent the offseason training in Austin, Texas, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in late June he weighs 248 pounds, but wants to get to 255 by the start of the season.
The Cowboys open the 2023 season at MetLife Stadium against the Giants on Sept. 10.
“I’m always constantly working and trying to find ways to get better,” Parsons told The Post. “Just trying everything and anything to get a rhythm and get ready for the year.”
Parsons reported to the first day of Cowboys training camp last week for what he said will be a special year.
Dallas selected Parsons with the 12th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and he earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors that season.
In June, Parsons became just the second player in franchise history — the first since Bob Hayes from 1965-66 — to make the AP first-team All-Pro team in each of his first two seasons.
He also earned his second straight Pro Bowl nod.
Parsons led the Cowboys with 13.5 sacks last season, surpassing his rookie season total of 13, which set the franchise record for rookies.
He also led the team with 65 quarterback pressures.
When he’s not on the football field, Parsons is focused on giving back – especially to his native state of Pennsylvania, where he supported the Philadelphia Sixers during the 2023 NBA Playoffs and sat courtside with former team owner and current Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin at Wells Fargo Center.
Parsons joined other star athletes across a variety of sports in participating in the Merch Madness event, which was the biggest part of Fanatics’ Global Volunteer Day — a company-wide day of service featuring more than 4,000 employees across 10 countries volunteer in their local communities at more than 150 different locations to donate roughly $20 million.