"My mom didn't do me justice": Cowboys’ Micah Parsons compares NFL Quarterbacks to Formula 1 drivers, playfully blames his mother

While the Dallas Cowboys enjoyed a well-deserved bye week, star linebacker Micah Parsons took the opportunity to explore a different kind of adrenaline-fueled world: Formula 1 racing. Parsons, known for his passion for sports beyond football, made the trip to Austin, Texas, to witness the United States Grand Prix.
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The race, dominated by Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, marked Ferrari’s first 1-2 finish in the U.S. since 2006. For Parsons, known for his love of various sports, this experience allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the intensity that motorsports offer. Comparing the physical and mental demands of being a Formula 1 driver to playing quarterback in the NFL, Parsons offered a thoughtful reflection on the rarity of opportunities in both sports.
“Football is not the hardest thing to get into,” Parsons said. He emphasized that while there are approximately 80 quarterbacks in the NFL, Formula 1’s 20 to 23 drivers represent a far more exclusive group. “These are actually the best in the world. And you can’t get drafted into this place,” he remarked, adding humor by saying his mother should have introduced him to go-karting earlier in life.
"When you do the numbers, there’s 32 starting quarterbacks, there's 32 backups, so there is 64 quarterbacks, plus there are some third strings, so there’s about 80 quarterbacks in the NFL. There is 20, at max 23 drivers in F1. They cannot be swapped out every year like quarterbacks. These are actually the best in the world. And you can’t get drafted into this place. My mom didn’t do me justice. She should have gotten me in go-karting,” Parsons added.

In his typical lighthearted style, Parsons also joked about whether he could meet the weight requirements for an F1 driver. When asked if he could slim down to 160 pounds, Parsons playfully admitted, “I could have dieted,” though he quickly added that it would be difficult at his current size. He also laughed at the cramped seating arrangements in F1 cars, likening the limited legroom to the discomfort felt in economy airplane seats.
Despite his admiration for F1 drivers, Parsons' focus remains squarely on his role with the Cowboys. After their bye week, Dallas will face the San Francisco 49ers, a matchup that comes with high stakes as both teams recover from recent injuries. The Cowboys will count on Parsons to lead their defense as they prepare to battle their NFC rivals and aim to silence doubters.
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