The Pittsburgh Steelers Russell Wilson era has officially ended. Both ESPN and the NFL Network are reporting that Wilson will sign with the New York Giants, closing the door on a return to Pittsburgh. For the record, Wilson had a 6-5 regular season record and was 0-1 in the playoffs.
- That means that the Steelers will now start their 5th quarterback in 5 years.
Just who the quarterback will be remains unknown.
The Steelers have resigned Mason Rudolph, but he agreed to a backup-level contract. Aaron Rodgers has visited the South Side and the Steelers are interested in signing him, but thus far no deal has been reached.
Russell Wilson is sacked. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review
A Quick Look at the Brief Russell Wilson Era in Steelers Football
The Steelers signed Russell Wilson last spring after the Denver Broncos cut him which started a chain reaction leading to Kenny Pickett getting traded to Philadelphia and Justin Fields arriving from Chicago via trade.
- Wilson missed much of training camp and the season’s first six games.
Russell Wilson immediately brought varsity passing back to Pittsburgh for the first time since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Wilson’s moon balls were works of art, with George Pickens and to a lesser extent Calvin Austin as the prime beneficiaries.
The Steeler won five straight games with Wilson at the helm, including wins against the eventual NFC Championship game participant Washington Commanders and the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers won seven of Wilson’s first 8 games as a starter, before embarking on a grueling stretch that saw them lose to the Eagles and Ravens on the road and then the Chiefs and Bengals at home.
The Ravens ridiculed the Steelers in the playoffs, although Wilson quite frankly was one of the few men in Black and Gold to author an “Above the Line” performance.
- Wilson brought some thing to the Steelers that couldn’t be measured by numbers or stats.
He was a confident quarterback who looked in command in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. And that actually be why he’s not returning to Pittsburgh.
Arthur Smith made it known, subtly during the season that he preferred Justin Fields. After the season leaks surfaced detailing tension between the two. Wilson was a little too willing to audible out of plays he didn’t like.
Beyond that, as detailed by D.I. Davis on Steel City Insider, Wilson struggled when confronted by championship-caliber NFL offenses. Not having George Pickens for a long spell didn’t help, but it was far from the only factor.
Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan all expressed interest in bringing Wilson back.
- But when word came to deed, that did not happen.
In this scribe’s opinion, the Steelers would be better served with wither Wilson or Rudolph as a “Bridge Quarterback” but I’m neither Rooney, nor Tomlin, nor Khan called to ask my ask me. checks.
Pittsburgh-New York Quarterback Round Robin in the Making?
Ironically, Russell Wilson’s first game came in the victory against the New York Jets against Aaron Rodgers, and his next came against the New York Giants, his new team.
Justin Fields of course signed with the Jets in free agency, and if Rodgers arrives, the Pittsburgh-New York quarterback round-robin will be complete.
That might not make for much in the way of quality quarterbacking, but it does make for great copy.
