Is Russell Wilson done as an NFL starting QB?

Evaluating the prospects for a once-great NFL quarterback like Russell Wilson is a complex topic that combines a statistical element with sentiment. 

With his recent performances over the past couple of years under scrutiny, NFL fans are left wondering: Is Russell Wilson’s time as a starting quarterback drawing to a close?

Wilson has been a fixture in the NFL since being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012. With a Super Bowl victory and nine Pro Bowl selections on his resume, Wilson carved out a legacy characterized by dynamic play and durability. 

His career stats are impressive, including 43,653 passing yards and a more than 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. But can past glories ensure future successes in an ever-demanding and evolving league?

What have you done for me lately?

Wilson’s recent performances since being traded away from Seattle to Denver in 2022 have been inconsistent at best. 

Declines in Wilson’s overall performance have raised eyebrows. Last season, Wilson played better than his first year in Denver but was still benched by Broncos head coach Sean Payton toward the end of the season. 

Once the Broncos asked Wilson to essentially restructure his contract midseason and he declined, well, the writing was on the wall.

“We beat the Chiefs, they came up to me during the bye week, beginning of the bye week, Monday or Tuesday, and they told me that if I didn’t change my contract, my injury guarantee, that I’d be benched for the rest of the year,” Wilson explained.  “And we had nine games left or so. I was definitely disappointed about it, and it was a process throughout the whole week, for the whole bye week.” 

Steel City situation

But Wilson got a new lease on life during the offseason, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers as their presumed starter. 

The move was met with mixed reactions, with fans hopeful yet uncertain about what Wilson has left. Unfortunately for Wilson, three weeks into the season, he’s yet to take a snap for Pittsburgh due to a calf injury.

In Wilson’s absence, Justin Fields stepped in, and the Steelers are 2-0. A win at home over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3 would make it tough for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to move away from Fields. 

It’s not that Fields is lighting up the world. However, he is a promising young quarterback with great mobility and arm strength who, to this point, has limited big mistakes on the field. 

What should’ve been

In acquiring Wilson in the offseason, the plan was for him to come to Pittsburgh and revitalize his career under a coach in Tomlin who believed in him. 

Signing with the Steelers was supposed to be a rejuvenating experience for Wilson, but it quickly became a nightmare. The longer Wilson is out with the calf injury, the less chance there is that we’ll see him playing in Pittsburgh if it continues to win.

Unrealistic expectations

In recent years, we’ve seen a string of NFL QBs playing well late into their 30s and even entering their 40s. 

Tom Brady was the anomaly, playing at such a high level into his mid-40s and only recently retiring. Drew Brees played until the age of 41, and Aaron Rodgers is the Jets’ starting QB at 40. 

Wilson will be 36 in November, but it doesn’t feel like he’ll be the next in line to follow in their footsteps.