Inside The Star
It’s easy to think Dallas Cowboys DE Micah Parsons’ trade request is an unprecedented bombshell in franchise history, but the truth is, he’s far from the first star to want out.
In fact, Cowboys Insider Bobby Belt recently dug into the archives and found that eight players have formally asked for trades since Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989.
The surprising twist? Only three of those requests were actually granted, and none of them have happened since 1992.
What makes Parsons’ situation feel so much bigger is the era we’re in now: a time when social media turns every rumor, report, and reaction into a headline, and where the court of public opinion weighs in before the ink is even dry.
In other words, history is repeating itself, just with a louder microphone.
All the credit for the information in this article goes to Bobby Belt, whose thread on Twitter/X brought to light a situation we thought was brand new.
Follow along with me as I go into detail on the eight other instances where Cowboys players have asked to be traded away from America’s Team.
Most fans probably don’t remember Steve Pelluer, but he was the starting quarterback for the Cowboys in 1988.
Pelluer ended up requesting a trade in 1989 after Troy Aikman and Steve Walsh were thrust ahead of him on the depth chart.
He was eventually traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in October of the same year in exchange for a 3rd and 4th round pick.
The mammoth defensive tackle was the Cowboys’ 1st round pick in 1985, but never lived up to the hype.
Jimmy Johnson’s arrival in 1989 created some tension between the former 17th overall pick and the coaching staff, and Brooks requested a trade in May.
He was granted his wish just two short months later when the Cowboys sent him and a 4th round pick to the Denver Broncos for a 3rd round pick in the 1990 NFL Draft.
HC Jimmy Johnson and his staff drafted WR Alexander Wright with a 2nd round pick in 1990, but the wide receiver fell out of favor with the staff by 1992.
He privately requested a trade, and was granted that trade when the Cowboys shipped him off to the Los Angeles Raiders for a 4th round pick.
Johnson initially stated he would not trade Wright, but with the relationship severed, he got what he could for the disgruntled wide receiver.
Perhaps the highest-profile player in franchise history to request a trade, RB Emmitt Smith was the first of the eight total players to actually remain in Dallas after doing so.
If you hear the story from Smith’s mouth, he would tell you that he didn’t officially request a trade, but as he was representing himself, he reached out to Don Shula and the Miami Dolphins.
Emmitt never quite made it back to Florida, as Jerry...
