GREEN BAY, WI — In a move that sent shockwaves through the NFL and reunited one of football’s most dynamic duos, the Green Bay Packers claimed former All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs off waivers Wednesday, just one day after his shocking release from the Dallas Cowboys.

The reaction from Diggs’ former teammate and best friend, Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons, was immediate and electrifying.

“We’re back … 🫡” Parsons posted on X (formerly Twitter) within hours of the move becoming official, accompanied by a saluting emoji that had Packers fans ready to run through walls.

Those two simple words carried the weight of four years of brotherhood in Dallas, a controversial trade that separated them in August, and now an unexpected playoff reunion that could change everything for Green Bay’s postseason aspirations.

The Cowboys’ Loss Becomes Green Bay’s Gain

Diggs was waived by Dallas following what NFL insider Tom Pelissero described as “a cumulation of multiple factors both on and off the field” that came to a head when the cornerback chose to remain in Washington, D.C. with family after the Cowboys’ Christmas Day game against the Commanders, despite the team denying his request.

For a Cowboys franchise already eliminated from playoff contention at 7-9, the decision to cut ties with their 2021 first-team All-Pro made financial sense. With zero guaranteed money remaining on his contract and a $14.5 million base salary due in 2026, Dallas was simply accelerating the inevitable.

But for Green Bay? This is the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that could define a playoff run.

The Packers will only pay Diggs the remaining $472,000 he’s due in base salary this season, essentially getting a former All-Pro cornerback for pennies on the dollar with no long-term commitment. If Diggs can rediscover even a fraction of the form that made him one of the league’s most feared cover corners in 2021-2022, it’s a masterstroke by GM Brian Gutekunst.

Perfect Timing for a Desperate Secondary

The timing couldn’t be better for Green Bay. Over their last four games, the Packers’ defense has given up an average of 29.5 points per game, a stark contrast to the unit that ranked second among NFC playoff contenders in total defense for most of the season.

The secondary has been particularly vulnerable. Cornerback Kamal Hadden was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, while both Nate Hobbs and safety Zayne Anderson are expected to miss the remainder of the season. Starting corners Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, who were above the NFL average in 2024, have struggled significantly this year.

Enter Trevon Diggs — a player whose career 20 interceptions since 2020 are tied for third in the NFL over that span, and whose 63 passes defensed rank tied for eighth. Diggs is the only player in the NFL with 20-plus interceptions and 60-plus passes defensed since 2020.

“Those guys up front give me all day to throw, but we need our secondary to hold up,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said after the Week 16 loss to Baltimore. “When you get to the playoffs, you’re facing elite quarterbacks. We have to be able to cover.”

Now, despite being locked into the No. 7 seed and preparing to face either the Chicago Bears or Philadelphia Eagles on the road in the Wild Card round, Green Bay has added a playmaker who could be the difference between a quick playoff exit and a deep January run.

The Brotherhood Reunited

The connection between Diggs and Parsons runs deeper than just football. The two formed an inseparable bond during their four seasons together in Dallas, with Parsons consistently advocating for his friend even when the Cowboys organization seemed ready to move on.

When Diggs tore his ACL in 2023, Parsons immediately took to social media: “I am my brother’s keeper! I got you 7! No more need to be said!”

When Dallas traded Parsons to Green Bay in August rather than meeting his contract extension demands — a blockbuster deal that sent the five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher north in exchange for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round draft picks — Diggs responded with a broken heart emoji.

“I was really surprised, I really thought [an extension] was going to get done so we could just stay a family,” Diggs told Dallas media days after the trade. “Just him being here all his years, but unfortunately that’s not what God had for him.”

The two reunited when Green Bay and Dallas played to a 40-40 tie in Week 4 at AT&T Stadium. After the game, they embraced at midfield and swapped jerseys in an emotional moment captured by cameras.

“Without a doubt I was going to give him my jersey and he was going to get mine – that’s my brother for life,” Parsons said that day.

Now, that brotherhood has been restored in the most unexpected way possible — just in time for the playoffs.

The Parsons Factor Looms Large

The timing of this reunion carries bittersweet undertones. Parsons suffered a torn ACL earlier in December and is out for the remainder of the season, having undergone surgery this week. The injury is a devastating blow to Green Bay’s championship hopes, as Parsons had been dominant in his first season with the Packers, recording 12.5 sacks in just 14 games.

Despite being sidelined, Parsons’ presence in the locker room and his endorsement of Diggs carries significant weight. The fact that the injured star took time to publicly celebrate the move speaks volumes about what Diggs could mean to this defense.

“Micah’s energy is infectious,” Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said Wednesday. “Even when he can’t be on the field, he’s finding ways to impact this team. His belief in Trevon matters.”

Can Diggs Recapture His All-Pro Form?

The elephant in the room is whether the Trevon Diggs who arrives in Green Bay bears any resemblance to the player who led the NFL with 11 interceptions in 2021.

The numbers from this season are concerning. In eight games with Dallas, Diggs managed just 25 tackles with zero interceptions and zero passes defensed. He sports a 56.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 80th out of 113 cornerbacks.

Injuries have ravaged the past three years of his career. He’s played in only 21 games since signing a five-year, $97 million extension in summer 2023. The knee issues that kept him out all of training camp this year clearly impacted his performance, and the concussion he suffered in a bizarre home accident — revealed to be caused by a TV mounting pole falling on his head — cost him another eight games on injured reserve.

“Honestly, I feel like they f***ed my dog over,” Parsons told Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein back in October about Dallas’ handling of Diggs’ recovery. “He’s coming off a catastrophic knee injury, and I just didn’t think they did right by him. He didn’t participate all camp and he’s going out there playing Week 1 and 2.”

The hope in Green Bay is that a fresh start with a playoff-caliber team, reunited with his best friend, and away from the dysfunction of a 7-9 Cowboys season could unlock the player who once struck fear into opposing quarterbacks.

The Alabama Connection

Diggs isn’t just reuniting with Parsons. Before breaking into the NFL, Diggs played for current Packers defensive passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley at Alabama, where Ansley oversaw his transition from playing both sides of the ball as a freshman to becoming a full-time defensive player.

Ansley even referenced that experience earlier this summer when asked about position switches: “I did at Alabama with Trevon Diggs. We moved him from receiver to safety first and then moved him to corner.”

Additionally, Diggs was college teammates with Packers safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs — all three were part of Alabama’s 2017 national championship team. These existing relationships could accelerate his integration into Green Bay’s defense, which is critical given that the playoffs begin in less than two weeks.

Low Risk, Potentially Massive Reward

From a purely business perspective, this move is genius for Green Bay. By claiming Diggs on waivers rather than waiting to sign him as a free agent, the Packers secured him while blocking other contenders from adding him. The financial commitment is minimal — roughly $530,000 total if he’s active for Week 18 against Minnesota.

If Diggs struggles or can’t get up to speed with the defense in time for the playoffs? Green Bay releases him with no long-term consequences and moves on.

But if the change of scenery, the reunion with Parsons, and the playoff atmosphere unlocks even 70-80 percent of the player who made first-team All-Pro in 2021? The Packers suddenly have a game-changing playmaker in their secondary who can take the ball away from elite quarterbacks.

“We needed someone who could make plays on the ball,” one Packers defensive back said on condition of anonymity. “Our corners this year have one interception total. ONE. Trevon at his best is a ball hawk. If he can give us that, even just a couple times in the playoffs, it could be huge.”

The Playoff Picture

Green Bay enters Week 18 locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC, meaning they’ll travel to face either the second-seeded Chicago Bears or third-seeded Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round. The Bears currently control their own destiny for the No. 2 seed after defeating Philadelphia on Black Friday.

For a Packers team that’s lost three straight games and watched their once-dominant defense crumble without Parsons, the addition of Diggs represents hope. Hope that one controversial move by a division rival could transform their playoff chances. Hope that sometimes the best additions come from unexpected places at unexpected times.

“Nothing’s guaranteed,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Wednesday when asked about Diggs. “But we believe in adding talented players who want to compete. Trevon wants to be here, wants to win, and that matters.”

Cowboys Nation’s Reaction: From Anger to Acceptance

Back in Dallas, the reaction among Cowboys fans has been mixed. Some applauded the organization for finally moving on from an underperforming, injury-prone player with a massive contract. Others lamented watching yet another talented defender leave America’s Team only to potentially thrive elsewhere.

“First Micah, now Trevon,” one Cowboys fan wrote on social media. “We’re just giving the Packers our defense at this point.”

The irony isn’t lost on anyone: Dallas, eliminated from playoff contention at 7-9, essentially gifted Green Bay — a playoff team with Super Bowl aspirations — a former All-Pro cornerback for pennies on the dollar.

“That’s the Cowboys way,” another fan quipped. “Making other teams better since 1996.”

What’s Next?

Diggs will wear No. 28 for the Packers and could see action as soon as Sunday’s regular-season finale against Minnesota, though it’s unclear how much Green Bay will play their starters given that their playoff seeding is already locked.

The real test comes in the Wild Card round, where Diggs will face either Caleb Williams and the Bears or Jalen Hurts and the Eagles — two of the NFC’s most dynamic offenses.

If he can contribute even modestly to slowing them down, give Green Bay’s pass rush time to get home, and maybe — just maybe — make one or two game-changing plays on the ball, this low-cost waiver claim could be remembered as the move that saved the Packers’ season.

For now, all that matters is that brotherhood has been restored. Micah Parsons got his friend back. Trevon Diggs gets a fresh start with a playoff team. And the Packers get a former All-Pro cornerback with nothing to lose and everything to prove.

“We’re back,” indeed.

The Packers face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18 on Sunday, January 4th at noon CT before beginning their playoff journey as the NFC’s No. 7 seed.

Trevon Diggs Career Stats:

• Games Played: 66 (63 starts)
• Total Tackles: 240 (199 solo)
• Interceptions: 20 (2 returned for TDs)
• Passes Defensed: 63
• Forced Fumbles: 2
• Pro Bowls: 2 (2021-22)
• First-Team All-Pro: 2021