Franchise legend Emmitt Smith believes the Micah Parsons trade move could have lasting consequences on the Dallas Cowboys.

Smith warned that the franchise must extend the returns of the trade or risk damaging its relationship with one of the NFL's most passionate fan bases.

"The fans that feel the way the veteran fans felt when Tom Landry was fired and when Herschel Walker was traded away…But here's the beautiful thing about that trade of Herschel Walker. It created the platform that we built and developed in the 90s. I say we still have the same opportunity to do that," Smith said on the Ross Tucker Podcast.

That is a massive claim Smith is making; he is directly comparing the 1990s dynasty to the current team. That era cemented the Dallas Cowboys as America's Team, the global brand we know today.

It was 1989 when Tom Landry was fired. That move wasn't taken lightly by the longtime fans, as Landry had coached the team for 29 years since its inception.

The then-new owner of the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, hired Jimmy Johnson as the head coach. Together, they traded Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings and, in return, received five players and eight draft picks.

They turned those draft picks into multiple Pro-Bowlers. Although the Boys lost the '89 season 1-15, they went on to win three Super Bowls in a span of just four years.

That's what Smith is talking about. To turn that trade into a franchise-altering move. Something Jones and company are trying this season.

The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers and received defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks in return. They turned those two first-rounders into four players.

Dallas traded the 2026 first-rounder to the Eagles and received a first-round pick and two fourth-rounders. With which they drafted edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, cornerback Devin Moore and defensive lineman LT Overton.

The other 2027 first-rounder they received via the Parsons trade, they materialized it into defensive tackle Quinnenn Williams.

Smith believes that if the Cowboys fail to do so, the franchise could end up losing its fanbase.

Micah Parsons Trade Tests Decades of Cowboys Fan Loyalty

On the Ross Tucker Podcast, Smith also explained how America's team could lose the fans "for a lifetime."

"If we don't (capitalize on the Parsons trade), then I believe the Dallas Cowboys and the family could be losing fans for a lifetime because those fans will feel like they have been taken advantage of and no one has really paid attention to them," Smith said.

It has been three decades since the Cowboys have won a Super Bowl or a championship, for that matter. Last season, their offense was one of the best offenses in the league. But their defense pulled them back so badly that Dallas could not even reach the playoffs.

"And that's when you will see an effect of sales in tickets, suites, merchandising going down, and that's the biggest way impact a person's pocket, is through their wallet," Smith added.

Parsons trade marks a monumental turning point in the franchise's history; whether it will turn out to be good or bad remains to be seen.

However, one thing is certain: this fanbase has endured decades of heartbreak, yet they return with unwavering loyalty year after year. After all, that is exactly what it means to be a Cowboys fan.

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore