Russell Wilson’s NFL journey has been a rollercoaster, marked by early Super Bowl appearances with the Seattle Seahawks, followed by years of playoff contention but ultimately falling short of championship glory. His trade to the Denver Broncos in 2022 was expected to revitalize his career, but instead resulted in two subpar seasons before his departure. Now, Wilson has shed light on a pivotal moment in Denver that nearly ended his tenure prematurely.
Wilson’s time in Seattle, while initially highlighted by consecutive Super Bowl runs, eventually plateaued. Despite consistent playoff appearances, the Seahawks failed to recapture their championship form, leading to the decision to trade Wilson to the Broncos. Expectations were high in Denver, but the team struggled under Wilson’s leadership.
Russell Wilson during his time with the Denver Broncos.Alt: Russell Wilson on the sidelines during a game in a Denver Broncos uniform.
The Threat of the Bench
In a recent interview with ESPN, Wilson revealed a shocking turn of events during his first season with the Broncos. He disclosed that he played through a torn lat muscle, significantly impacting his performance. The situation reached a critical point before a Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills. According to Wilson, he was informed that he would be benched for the remainder of the season if he didn’t restructure his contract to alter his injury guarantee.
“The truth was, I got to Denver and played my first year and had a torn lat and trying to play through the whole season…,” Wilson stated. “And last year I played well. When everything happened, it was one of those things for me that I remember going into that Buffalo game and I was told I was going to be benched for the next nine games if I didn’t change my injury guarantee.” Facing this ultimatum, Wilson chose to focus on his performance, stating, “… I said, all right, I’m just going to play my best ball and not worry about the distractions… and just play ball. And I knew that may be the end.”
Alt: Russell Wilson in action, throwing a pass during an NFL game.
Despite the pressure, the Broncos defeated the Bills 24-22 in that Week 10 matchup. Wilson continued to lead the team, improving their record to 7-8 before ultimately being benched after a Week 16 loss to the Houston Texans. The Broncos finished the season with a .500 record, going 6-6 in games without Wilson.
Wilson’s Resurgence in Pittsburgh
After his tumultuous tenure in Denver, Wilson joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. Following an unremarkable preseason debut and an early-season injury, he eventually took over as the starting quarterback. Since then, he has led the Steelers to a 3-0 record, throwing for six touchdowns and one interception.
Alt: Russell Wilson in his Pittsburgh Steelers uniform on the field during a game.
While his completion percentage remains a concern at 58.1%, Wilson’s leadership has undeniably sparked a winning streak for the Steelers. His performance has drawn comparisons to his earlier years in Seattle, and he appears poised to lead Pittsburgh back to the playoffs for the first time since his departure from the Seahawks. Despite skepticism from some analysts regarding the Steelers’ long-term prospects, Wilson’s current performance suggests a promising resurgence for the veteran quarterback.
