Steelers' Russell Wilson Likely More Interested In His Legacy Than His Checkbook

The Pittsburgh Steelers chose to acquire Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on one-year contracts during the 2024 offseason. Both have had a chance to start and have shown very different skill sets. Wilson is on the back end of his career, but has been highly successful, even winning a Super Bowl. Fields is young and feels he needs to prove himself. This has raised questions about who will return to the Steel City in 2025.

Dianna Russini from The Athletic believes Wilson will return to Pittsburgh in 2025. On a recent appearance on the Joe Starkey Show on 93.7 The Fan, Brian Batko from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, was asked about Russini's proclamation and how much he thinks it would cost to retain Wilson. Batko said this whole conversation feels premature, noting that Wilson has only played five games in black and gold. 

"I guess if he goes 4-1 down the stretch here, that would give you a lot of confidence in terms of his play," said Batko. "I could see it. I'll humor you and say, 60% Russell Wilson returns. I do think that at this stage of his career, he wouldn't necessarily hold them over a barrel trying to get every penny. I think he would take a little less if this offense and this team is getting more out of him than we saw in Denver. Three years, $75 million, or something like that."

Wilson took the league minimum for a veteran to come to the Steel City because the Denver Broncos still had to pay him for this season. They apparently wanted him gone so badly that their Head Coach Sean Payton paid him to leave.

Batko said he gave Wilson a contract number lower than market value because he believes he isn't here to scrape every penny he can into his pockets. According to Spotrac, Wilson's career earnings are more than $305 million, so Batko believes Wilson is more interested in how he is remembered. 

"When I hear him talk, it could be pontificating, but it sounds like he's somebody who thinks a lot about his legacy," added Batko. "I think he's also a guy who's right there in the Hall of Fame conversation, but I don't know if they're asking for his gold jacket measurements just yet. So why not stay somewhere where you feel like you're in a good position to keep up putting up numbers, keep winning important games, and strengthen that resume?"

After all, Wilson left a bad taste in people's mouths at the end of his time with the Seattle Seahawks and the Broncos. This is his chance to redeem himself, prove that he still has it, and show that he is a team player. 

Wilson has been accused of being a diva and a selfish player who is more worried about himself than his team. He has a chance in Pittsburgh, with one of the most popular teams in the country, to show he isn't that guy. 

Steelers Are Embracing Russell Wilson

Before landing in Pittsburgh, Wilson had been making connections with his teammates. He heard from players like Cameron Heyward and also worked out with his receivers before the start of the season. 

He has embraced the city and seems to be a perfect fit. While Wilson receives a lot of criticism for using public relations staff to shape his narrative, it doesn't feel like that is the case. Wilson has been spotted at community and charity events, taking the time to shake hands with fans and participate in all things team-related. Both Wilson and Fields have been credited with using their unique leadership styles to help the team progress. 

Do you think Wilson will return, and if so, what do you think his contract will look like? Click to comment below.

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