Breaking: Steelers Planning To Sign Former Super Bowl Champion QB Russell Wilson

The Pittsburgh Steelers have tried to keep their cards close in regards to the quarterback position since a Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills. The NFL world was shaken up less than a week before free agency when Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that there was a mutual interest between the organization and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson. It led to both praises and criticisms, but regardless of what anyone thinks of the partnership, it's happening. Wilson is reportedly signing with the Steelers.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, after meeting on Friday in the Steel City, Wilson and Pittsburgh have agreed to pursue a seventh Lombardi Trophy for the franchise together.

No one can necessarily say this is a shocking move, but it certainly raises a plethora of questions. Third-year quarterback Kenny Pickett was expected to be given a chance with a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith. That's not out of the question; however, it's hard to believe Wilson would be accepting the gig in Pittsburgh if he wasn't expecting to be the starter.

A lot has been made up about Wilson's age, but at 35 years old, he could still have several good years of football left in him if he's put in the right situation. General Manager Omar Khan has proven that he isn't afraid to move on from players. Guys like Mason Cole, Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Peterson, Chukwuma Okorafor, Pressley Harvin III and Allen Robinson II (more so cap reasons) were all released prior to the new league year beginning.

Wilson won a Super Bowl during his time with the Seattle Seahawks and his strong play didn't translate to Denver. The Broncos decided to move on from the future Hall of Fame candidate after he threw for 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in 15 starts in 2023. Looking at it objectively, that's a pretty good stat line for the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

Pickett has only thrown 13 total touchdowns in his two-year NFL career. Reservations about Wilson are understood, but anyone arguing that Wilson isn't an upgrade for the 2024 Steelers is off base. Smith's offense will feature a downhill rushing attack and a heavy dose of play-action. It's the perfect fit for a veteran signal-caller who has the ability to manage football games on the offensive side of the ball.

The job won't publicly be handed to neither quarterback, but based on resumes, one can guess that Wilson will be under center once the 2024 NFL season kicks off in September. If he finds success, the Steelers will likely pass on Pickett's fifth-year option for 2026 and he could find himself on a different team sooner rather than later. It's a fascinating situation that the organization has not been accustomed to.

Steelers Likely To Officially Move On From Mason Rudolph

This move all but ends Mason Rudolph's time in Pittsburgh. Drafted in 2018, the former third-round pick will test the free agent market for the second offseason in a row. He is expected to have more suitors this time around after performing quite well in the final three weeks of the 2023 regular season and into the playoffs. He revived his NFL career thanks to an injury to Pickett and poor play from Trubisky.

Do you like the signing of Wilson? Is this already the end of Pickett's career in Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation