Steelers' Russell Wilson Detailed What Really Happened In Those 2 Struggling Seasons In Denver

The Pittsburgh Steelers opted to sign Russell Wilson to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum this offseason, a decision driven by their discomfort with relying solely on Kenny Pickett. The addition of Wilson was intended to spark genuine quarterback competition, but Pickett wasn't happy with the move and requested a trade, which the Steelers granted.

The 2023 season was a challenging one for the Steelers' offense, marked by poor quarterback play and historically low performance. Wilson, who was named the official Week 1 starter, brings a new sense of hope to Steelers fans eager to see if he can revive the offense. After two difficult seasons with the Denver Broncos, there's speculation about whether Wilson is on a mission for redemption in the Steel City.

Following his appointment as the starting quarterback, Wilson addressed the Pittsburgh media. When asked if he has something to prove after his struggles with the Broncos, he initially gave a standard response, but later offered insights into what he believes went wrong during his time in Denver.

"I feel like that every day you try to prove yourself right and just who you are and how you go about it. I think when you look at it over my career and just the experience that I have had, you know those 10 years in Seattle were really special. It was always home for me and just a place I loved."

During his time with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson established an impressive career, earning nine Pro Bowl selections and winning a Super Bowl. When he signed a five-year, $242 million deal with the Broncos following his trade, expectations were high that he would lead the team back into Super Bowl contention. 

However, his first season in Denver was disappointing, as he managed only four wins while throwing for 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Wilson has since provided some insight into the reasons behind his struggles in Denver.

"Obviously Denver, the first year didn’t go the way I expected being injured and everything else. That’s part of the game, it’s a physically natured game and sometimes life doesn’t always go the way you want it to."

Wilson faced challenges under Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett, who was dismissed after just one season in Denver. The Broncos then brought in Sean Payton in hopes of turning things around. 

"I think last year, I felt like me again, I have told you guys that before," Wilson said. "I felt locked in, in such a way. There was adversity, but you overcome the adversity and you move on. God puts you in amazing places."

Under Payton's guidance, Wilson's performance improved significantly; he threw for 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in 2023. Wilson feels that he was able to return to his former self.

Steelers' Russell Wilson Blamed For Denver's Struggles

Wilson started 15 games before being benched by the Broncos due to his refusal to restructure his contract.  Payton was so dissatisfied with Wilson's performance that he was willing to pay millions to move him off the team. Initially, Payton blamed Hackett for the situation, but later shifted the blame to Wilson.

In 2024, Wilson has the opportunity to prove Payton wrong and demonstrate that he wasn’t the root of the issues in Denver. Despite struggling over the past two years, Wilson remains optimistic about his ability to perform at an elite level. 

With the Steelers having experienced poor quarterback play in 2023, Wilson’s task is clear: if he can limit turnovers and lead the offense effectively, the Steelers should see significant improvement.

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