Russell Wilson has seen his reputation plummet since joining the Denver Broncos in the 2021-2022 offseason. The once Super Bowl champion quarterback was the target of much ridicule, especially during 2022 with the Broncos, one that ended with coach Nathaniel Hackett being fired after 15 games.
Similarly, the Pittsburgh Steelers have dealt with issues of their own since saying goodbye to team legend Ben Roethlisberger in that same offseason. While Mike Tomlin remains coach of the Steelers, some had speculated after his team’s early playoff exit would spell the end of his career with the team.
Russell Wilson Spotted on Plane to Pittsburgh?
This morning, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport tweeted the following about Russell Wilson:
Free agent QB Russell Wilson, who has permission to visit teams now, was spotted this morning at a Newark Airport catching a flight to Pittsburgh to visit the #Steelers, said a source who saw him take pics and hang out with fans before boarding the flight. pic.twitter.com/CorG3n2bLH
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2024
The beleaguered QB has now been granted permission to speak to other franchises, and may already be getting to work on doing so. Despite his desire to “Win Two Super Bowls” with Denver, the Broncos had decidedly felt much different than Wilson. This rumor surfaces as Wilson plans meetings with the Raiders and held another “exploratory” meeting with the Giants.
His former team, the Denver Broncos, will try to recoup their losses from the trade that saw him arrive in Denver, one that will go down as one of the worst to have ever been executed. Wilson will turn 36 during the 2024 NFL season, and the window to win multiple Super Bowls will only shrink.
Pittsburgh Steelers Struggles With Quarterbacks
As soon as Roethlisberger rode off into the sunset following his team’s 2021 Wild Cad loss, the team got to work drafting his replacement. They drafted Kenny Pickett. In year one with the team, Pickett, who became a Pittsburgh hero in his time with the Pitt Panthers, put up decidedly pedestrian numbers. With 12 starts under his belt in his 2022 rookie season, Pickett only threw for 2000 yards, to accompany the first six passing touchdowns of his career. After a 3-7 start, the Steelers rallied to a 9-8 record.
In 2023, things did not improve much for the second year pro. They may have even gotten worse. In Matt Canada’s much-discussed offense, Pickett only threw for one more touchdown than he had in 2022, and threw five more interceptions. Despite Canada’s firing after Week 12, Pickett started just one more game before an ankle injury ended his season.
Without Pickett, however, Pittsburgh turned a corner to end their season, slipping into the postseason as the 7 seed. They would be eliminated on Wild Card Weekend. Even so, Mike Tomlin preserved his NFL-record streak of seasons where he avoided a losing record.
Why This Deal May Happen
There seems to be mutual interest from both Russell Wilson and the Steelers in making a potential deal happen. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Gazette and Josh Alper of NBC Sports both noted the following:
The Steelers are planning to meet with Wilson before free agency gets underway next week. Wilson will be released when the new league year opens on March 13.
Russell Wilson undeniably would need a change of scenery following a disastrous two years in Denver. In fact, to play back east for the first time since his college days might just be what Wilson needs. Kenny Pickett, while far from a bust, has definitely been unable to succeed in his first two seasons in the gold and black, and Russell Wilson may just be what the doctor ordered for Pittsburgh.