Why Micah Parsons calls Packers GM Brian Gutekunst the 'No Man'

Back in January, Green Bay Packers star pass-rusher Micah Parsons suggested that he could avoid landing on the physically unable to perform list for the start of the 2026 season as he works to recover from the torn ACL he suffered this past December. 

More recently, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke about Parsons during this week's NFL Scouting Combine.

Packers prepared to protect their Micah Parsons investment

Per Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Gutekunst hinted that he and team doctors will have the final say on when Parsons is cleared to resume facing live offenses in meaningful games. 

"I'm sure not only with him but a couple others, there's going to be a lot of pressing to get out there and play," Gutekunst said about Parsons. "He calls me the 'No Man,' but yeah, we'll kinda see. Obviously, we made a very big investment in him, and protecting that investment, I think, is really important."

Gutekunst's stance makes plenty of sense, as the Packers traded two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys in late August 2025 for the right to sign Parsons to a four-year, $188M contract that included $136M guaranteed. ESPN stats show that Parsons led all Green Bay players for the regular season with 12.5 sacks that he recorded across 14 games. 

That said, Green Bay suffered four straight losses from Week 16 through the wild-card round of the playoffs without having Parsons available. That says plenty about what he meant to a team that fell to 9-4-1 on the same day he was sidelined indefinitely. Meanwhile, Parsons would miss at least Green Bay's first four games of the 2026 season if he were placed on the PUP list. 

Packers have high expectations for what Micah Parsons will be after injury

"Players like Micah very rarely become available, and the way he impacted our football team, you guys saw it," Gutekunst added during his comments. "He's a rare player that can do what he can do when he's on the field, and the way he affects the game and the way he affects winning. So no regrets [to trading for and signing Parsons], and certainly expect him back better than ever once he gets rolling."

Before Parsons can be "better than ever," he must first be cleared to practice. It sounds like that may occur later than he hopes.