Russell Wilson Breaks Silence On Time With Steelers As Quarterback Has Interesting Thought About Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of completely turning over their quarterback room for the second season in a row. During Organized Team Activities (OTAs) of the 2024 offseason, Pittsburgh had Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen on the roster. Now, Pittsburgh has Mason Rudolph penciled in as the starter with Skylar Thompson and Will Howard behind him. The organization is also waiting to hear from veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, while Wilson and Fields continue their careers elsewhere as starting quarterbacks.

After the 2024 season ended, it seemed like the Steelers would be bringing back either Wilson or Fields as the organization's starting quarterback. That didn't come to fruition as Fields signed with the New York Jets and Wilson signed with the New York Giants. Both quarterbacks are expected to at least begin the season as starters, but time will tell with how much success they have in their new homes. 

Wilson made a podcast appearance on Thursday as he went on 7 PM In Brooklyn With Carmelo Anthony, and while he was on the show, he was asked about his time in Pittsburgh.

"Pittsburgh was a good place for me," Wilson said. "It really helped rejuvenate me in every way because of the locker room there, the pros, guys like TJ Watt and Cam Heyward, guys like Miles Killebrew, those captains. And then just the guys I was around, the hard work those guys put in."

Wilson spent the two years prior playing with the Denver Broncos, and while he was there, he looked like a shell of himself. In Pittsburgh, he actually strung together a decent amount of good starts, however he ended the season on a bad note. The decent play must have made Wilson feel rejuvenated, which he said while also praising guys like TJ Watt and Cam Heyward.

Wilson actually played well enough during his time with the Steelers to be named to the Pro Bowl, however he was a last-second addition as several other quarterbacks in the AFC declined their invitation. Another reason Wilson felt as though he was rejuvenated was because of the players around him, and the amount of work they were putting in to get better.

"I remember seeing a guy like Calvin Austin III, a young star, who just wanted to be great, came to San Diego, wanted to work with me," Wilson said. "Just guys that I really appreciate. Guys like Najee Harris and how he went about practicing hard every day. Different guys you get to know, teammates like Dan Moore, who I got to be really close with, and many others."

Calvin Austin III came into his own during the 2024 season, and a lot of that had to do with the way Wilson was able to throw the deep ball. The other two players Wilson mentioned, Najee Harris and Dan Moore Jr., both left the team in free agency. This could be a reason it didn't seem like there was any chance of Wilson returning to Pittsburgh once free agency began.

Steelers Could Have The Same Effect On Aaron Rodgers

Wilson felt rejuvenated by the Steelers, and maybe the organization would be able to do the same for Rodgers. The quarterback is 4-years old, but he doesn't seem like he plans to retire. Pittsburgh is the only logical landing spot for him at this point, and all signs have been pointing towards him wearing the black and gold soon n 2025. Players like Austin and DK Metcalf could hopefully make Rodgers feel a bit younger, which could lead to more team success with him at the helm of the offense.

Only time will tell what will happen with Rodgers and Pittsburgh. If he does sign, hopefully his time with the organization ends better than Wilson's did.

What do you think of Wilson's recollection of his time with the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below!

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