Cowboys' John Fassel: Micah Parsons Has Lobbied to Return Kicks amid NFL Rule Change

Micah Parsons wants to take on even more responsibility for the Dallas Cowboys.

During an appearance on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast, Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel said that the star linebacker has expressed interest in being a kickoff returner after the rule changes that are set to be implemented next season.

"You know Micah. So, he has lobbied me in the past to just be the primary kickoff returner," Fassel said "I'm like, Micah, that's the question you got to go a little further up than me on that one. But would I love to see him back there? Absolutely, because he would be fantastic. He would catch it and he'd run wild and he'd probably get incredible yards. But that ain't going to happen. I'm aware of that."

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The new rule changes the structure of the kickoff play, with the most notable changes being player alignment. The blockers will align on the 40-yard line and just five yards away from the opposing team. The kicker will be back at the other 35-yard line and the returner will be lined up in the landing zone, which is within the 20-yard line to the end zone.

The change is expected to increase safety as well as promote more returns. Only 22 percent of kickoffs were returned in 2023, while this new system could jump this number up to "50-or-60 percent", per the NFL Football Operations data and analytics team.

Parsons did notably play some special teams in college and Fassel remembered scouting him in the role before the Cowboys drafted him.

"Micah has asked about being a primary kickoff returner, that hasn't been allowed yet," Fassel said. "Probably not going to be allowed unless you say, 'Hey, you know in the game we're down by six and there's eight seconds left in the game and we got to score a touchdown and kick return to win it?' Maybe we put Micah back there as a second returner."

Still, his value to the Cowboys defense exceeds any benefit the special teams could reap from having him filter in. He three-time Pro Bowler and is a perennial candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year award.