The Pittsburgh Steelers made a significant move this offseason by signing former Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson joins the Steelers on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. Just two seasons ago, Wilson inked a five-year, $242 million deal with the Denver Broncos. For the 2024 season, the Broncos will cover the majority of his salary, while the Steelers will pay the minimum.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Russell Wilson speaks to the media.
Wilson joined the Broncos with high expectations to lead them to a Super Bowl, but the team missed the playoffs both years and won just 11 games under his leadership. Once considered one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Wilson's reputation quickly declined, placing him among the bottom tiers in the eyes of pundits. Now in Pittsburgh, Wilson is eager to change the recent narrative surrounding him.
While many fans remember Wilson's struggles in Denver over the past two years, sportswriter Charean Williams argues that his decline began during his final season with the Seattle Seahawks. She discussed Wilson's performance on Pro Football Talk with Mike Florio, expressing concerns about the Steelers' new quarterback. Williams highlighted a particular statistic that she believes underscores her concerns about Wilson's ability to rebound in Pittsburgh.
"Are we positive at this point in their careers that Russell Wilson is better than Justin Fields? I don't know. We know what Russell Wilson's ceiling is, and I think he's reached that. I don't know that we've seen that from Justin Fields. Last three years, Russell Wilson, 17-27 with two different teams, 220 yards a game. He's 35, he has hit his ceiling. I think there's a chance that Justin Fields could end up being the quarterback of that team at some point this season."
Despite these doubts, the Steelers are hopeful that Wilson can reclaim his former glory and lead the team to success in the upcoming season. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin stated that Wilson would be the starter in pole position. Another significant offseason move was the trade for Justin Fields. Some pundits believe Fields will eventually overtake Wilson during the 2024 season.
Williams raised a valid point about Wilson's team struggles during his final season with the Seahawks. However, Wilson's performance in 2021 was not poor. He completed 64.8% of his passes, threw for 3,113 yards, 25 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. For Steelers fans, accustomed to recent offensive struggles, such a performance would be a significant improvement.
The News Tribune
Former Seahawks QB Russell Wilson looks at his Super Bowl trophy.
The Steelers are banking on Wilson to bring stability and veteran leadership to the team. If he can return to form, he has the potential to lift Pittsburgh significantly. With a new offensive coordinator and a retooled roster, the Steelers are optimistic about their chances in the upcoming season. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if Wilson can deliver or if Fields can win the starting job.
In 2022, Wilson did struggle significantly. In his first year with the Broncos, he faced a new situation and passed for 3,524 yards, completing 60.5% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. However, despite the criticism from pundits, Wilson bounced back in 2023. During his final season in Denver, Wilson completed 66.4% of his passes, threw for 3,070 yards, and recorded 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
While these numbers are not MVP level, they represent a substantial improvement over what the Steelers saw from their quarterback room in 2023. Last season, the Steelers' quarterbacks combined for just 13 passing touchdowns, averaging less than one touchdown pass per game.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Has Been Unfairly Blamed
Although the media has been quick to criticize Wilson, his struggles were primarily limited to one year. Outside of that, he remained a solid quarterback. At this stage in his career, he may have lost a step, but Wilson is still a significant upgrade for the Steelers. He is likely to elevate the Steelers' offense higher than it has been in recent years.
USA Today
Steelers' Mike Tomlin and Russell Wilson meet after a game.
Wilson has shouldered the blame for his teams' struggles over the past three seasons. Now, he has the chance to turn things around with a team that hasn't had a losing season under Tomlin in 17 years. Wilson is eager to get back on the winning side and prove that he can still perform at a high level.
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