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Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson will join the Pittsburgh Steelers, he announced Sunday night.
Wilson has been given permission by the Denver Broncos to pursue his next NFL team before they officially release the 35-year-old quarterback when the new league year begins on March 13. And the Steelers are among the teams he has visited, spending more than six hours with the team this past Friday.
Wilson will sign a team-friendly deal with the Steelers for one year, ESPN reported.
Russell Wilson #3 of the Denver Broncos looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High on December 31, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Wilson made his intentions public via social media.
“Year 13. Grateful. @Steelers,” he posted on X, along with a video of Steelers fans waving their “Terrible Towels” at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.
It was always expected that the team that signed Wilson’s services wouldn’t have to break the bank to do so, as the Broncos still have to pay his $38 million salary for next season.
And the Steelers have always been a team that makes sense for Wilson, as they’ve struggled to find a starting quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Kenny Pickett, the team’s first-round pick in 2022, has a 14-10 starting record since entering the league, but he’s thrown just 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in those 24 games.
BRONCOS TO RELEASE RUSSELL WILSON AFTER 2 SEASONS
The lack of consistent quarterback play has led to Mitch Trubisky making sporadic starts over the past two seasons and Mason Rudolph being relegated to the center position late in 2023, including the team’s playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
So Wilson should have entered training camp as the starter for an offense that was about to explode.
Wilson recently expressed his desire to continue playing in Super Bowl rings after the disaster in Denver, and he was benched at the end of the 2023 season amid controversy over injury guarantees in his contract.
December 3, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) plays during a game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports)
He finished 7-8 on the year, better than the 4-11 inaugural campaign he had in 2022.
The Broncos have made it their intention to have Wilson leave when the new league year begins, even though releasing him would take up $85 million in cap space.
“Today we spoke with Russell Wilson to inform him that he will be released after the start of the league year,” general manager George Paton and head coach Sean Payton said in a joint statement. “On behalf of the Broncos, we thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community, and wish him the best as he continues his career.”
“As we move forward, we are focused on building the strongest team possible for the 2024 season and beyond. We are excited to improve this offseason and will have the flexibility to get better through the draft and free agency.”
As he enters the next chapter, there will be a completely different look on offense in Pittsburgh next season, especially with Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator under head coach Mike Tomlin.
Denver Broncos #3 Russell Wilson warms up before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High on December 31, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Wilson will get to work facing threats Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth while having a solid running back tandem in Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
