Rams legend played surprising role in Micah Parsons' trade saga

When he gave his acceptance speech for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award, Los Angeles Rams legendary left tackle Andrew Whitworth shared a bit of himself that few fans knew, let alone heard about.

He spoke of giving back to the community, touching the lives of younger players. and investing his time and attention in the lives of future NFL players.

Then-Dallas Cowboys elite linebacker Micah Parsons took notes.

Whitworth played 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals as their starting left tackle. But after a Pro Bowl season in 2016, they opted not to bring him back for his 12th year. And so, he signed with the Rams under newly hired head coach Sean McVay, and the rest is familiar history.

That led to a curious relationship with Parsons, who found himself in a quandary in 2025.

Parsons found himself at an impasse with Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, an impasse that ultimately led to the blockbuster trade to the Green Bay Packers on the eve of the regular season.

And if that was where this story ended, fans would find no reason for the story to appear on this website.

But it all becomes clear when Parsons joined the Thursday Night Football broadcast crew after the Packers' Week 2 victory over the Washington Commanders and profusely thanked Whitworth for leading him through the chaos and confusion.

Andrew Whitworth played surprising role in Micah Parsons' trade saga

It's a heartwarming tale of just how human players are when you pull back the curtain, including elite ones. While everyone respects what Parsons can do on a football field, he shared a bit of vulnerability when he admitted to reaching out to Whitworth for guidance on how to improve his game.

To no surprise, Whitworth shared that he hopped on a plane to Austin, Texas, to meet with Parsons and emerged from that first encounter knowing just how special the linebacker's career would be.

Whitworth is the ideal NFL mentor, a role that often forms images of seasoned veterans working with young children or rookies.

But NFL players benefit throughout their careers by consulting with players who have been in their shoes before, too.

It was that chance coincidence that paired up Parsons with Whitworth, and it was just two years later the former would lean heavily on Big Whit's counsel. It was the legendary left tackle who continued to touch base with Parsons throughout all the drama, and it was a special moment to see Parsons step up to the microphone and thank the retired offensive linemen profusely.

As always, thanks for reading.

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