There was a time when the New York Jets were seen as even more dysfunctional than the Dallas Cowboys.

But after the events of the past month — and Thursday in particular — it’s clear those comparisons won’t be made anytime soon.

With the Cowboys trading away All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday evening, Dallas dealt not only its best defensive player, but arguably its best all-around player, just a week before the regular season.

The shocking trade reminds Jets fans how much has changed for their team since Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn took charge.

Jets end dysfunction

The Parsons trade capped a months-long saga in Dallas that stretched through the offseason. From a reported handshake agreement to agent disputes to an irreconcilable split, the Cowboys gave up one of the league’s best defenders in exchange for a 30-year-old tackle coming off his worst season and two late first-round picks.

That could have been the Jets’ reality with their own stars this offseason.

But it wasn’t.

New York waited briefly, then finalized long-term extensions with All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson.

Rather than dragging out negotiations into training camp, the Jets handled business beforehand — avoiding distractions and ensuring stability.

In doing so, the Jets’ first-year front office showed it already understands something Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has struggled with for decades: sometimes it’s best to get deals done early and stay out of the headlines if the goal is winning.

We may not know Dallas’s true intentions for 2025, but the Jets have made theirs clear.

They’ve acted like an organization intent on building a consistent winner on and off the field, locking in the young stars they believe in for the long term.

The Cowboys don’t seem to grasp that approach. And while some fans remain cautious about fully trusting New York’s new regime, the way the Jets have handled their stars stands in sharp contrast to how the Cowboys handled theirs.

And that’s all the fanbase should be asking for.