10-Time Pro Bowl Veteran Quarterback Signs Deal with the Giants
Following a disappointing playoff exit for the Pittsburgh Steelers at the hands of their division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, in the AFC Wild Card Round, veteran quarterback Russell Wilson officially entered the offseason as a free agent for the second straight year. Wilson, who signed with the Steelers last offseason on a one-year, veteran minimum deal, found a fresh start after a drama-filled two-year stint with the Denver Broncos and head coach Sean Payton. Despite the Steelers faltering down the stretch last season, losing their final five games, including the playoffs, after starting 10-3, Wilson remained a lucrative option for teams entering free agency that were looking to improve their quarterback performance with a veteran presence. It was announced by Adam Schefter that the New York Giants and Wilson have agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $21 million as the veteran starter looks to make an impact on the Giants next season.
In his 13-year career, Wilson is well-known for his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks and former head coach Pete Carroll, where he spent his first 10 seasons. In the Northwest, Wilson found instant success with the Seahawks, helping lead Seattle to their first Super Bowl title in franchise history with a blowout victory against the Broncos in just his second season in 2013. He would return to the Super Bowl the following season but lost to the New England Patriots in the infamous goal-line interception by cornerback Malcolm Butler. However, in his final season with the Seahawks in 2021, Wilson saw a decline in production, finishing the season with a career-low in passing yards at the time, the third-lowest number of touchdown passes, and the second-worst QBR of his career. As a result, the Seahawks and Broncos struck a blockbuster deal in the offseason in March 2022, and Wilson went on to sign a five-year deal with Denver before the start of the 2022 season, which ended up being one of the worst deals in NFL history, as Wilson was released just two years into the contract.
Last season with the Steelers, Wilson missed the first five weeks due to a nagging calf strain that was reaggravated during practice. As a result, former Bears quarterback Justin Fields took over the starting role to begin the season, and Wilson later took over in Week Seven against the New York Jets. During Wilson's first seven starts with Pittsburgh, he and the Steelers offense were firing on all cylinders, scoring over 25 points in five of those games and leading the AFC North Division. However, both the Steelers and Wilson came back down to earth after their scorching start, as Pittsburgh went on to lose their final four regular-season games, including matchups with the Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, and Bengals. The Steelers' offense looked nothing like what it had been earlier in the season. After signing with the Giants, Wilson will look to turn the page on last season’s disappointment and show that he still has what it takes to help lead his team to the playoffs and, ultimately, a Super Bowl.
