Micah Parsons has only played one season in the NFL, but he may already be in need of getting a new shelf for some awards. On Tuesday, Parsons was named the NFL’s Butkus Award winner as the league’s best linebacker for the 2021 season.
Parsons is the second player from Penn State to win the NFL version of the Butkus Award. He joins NaVorro Bowman, who took home the award in 2013 with the San Francisco 49ers. Other past professional Butkus Award winners have included TJ Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Von Miller, and DeMarcus Ware. Parsons is the second Cowboys player to win the Butkus Award, with Ware doing so twice in 2008 and again in 2011.
Penn State has a good history with the Butkus Award, of course. Although Parsons never won the award while in college, Paul Posluszny (2005) and LaVar Arrington (1999) each won the award in college.
This year’s college Butkus Award winner was Georgia’s Nakobe Dean, who also won the high school Butkus Award in 2018.
Blessed đŚđđ˝ thank you! Mr.Butkus , Iâm glad I can represent the brand and embody what it means to have dedication and work ethic! Thank you for the selection of becoming Butkus award winner which allows me to join elite company!! https://t.co/1UoOQbTKEZ
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) February 1, 2022
Thank you God!!! #butkus #lionalwayshungryđŚ pic.twitter.com/7SvbvhGNyz
— Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) February 1, 2022
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