Russell Wilson is heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers.The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Steelers, a particular person acquainted with the main points advised The Associated Press on Sunday night time.The particular person, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of the contract hasn’t been finalized, stated Wilson will obtain the veteran’s minimal of $1.21 million whereas the Denver Broncos pay the rest of his $39 million wage.Wilson posted his intentions on X, the platform previously generally known as Twitter, saying: “Year 13. Grateful. (at)Steelers.”The 35-year-old Wilson was 11-19 in two seasons with the Broncos after being acquired in a commerce from Seattle. He bounced again from a dreadful 2022 season and threw 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and solely eight interceptions, however nonetheless misplaced his job to Jarrett Stidham after going 7-8 in coach Sean Payton’s first season final 12 months.Wilson led Seattle to eight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in 10 seasons with the Seahawks.The Steelers misplaced a wild-card playoff recreation with Mason Rudolph as their beginning quarterback. Rudolph went 3-0 after changing Kenny Pickett, who was 7-5 earlier than taking place with an damage. Mitch Trubisky began the opposite two video games and went 0-2.Pittsburgh is scheduled to play the Broncos in Denver this upcoming season — and the sport might function a return by Wilson. The NFL is anticipated to launch its league schedule in May.Last week, the Broncos knowledgeable Wilson they’d launch him when the brand new league 12 months begins Wednesday — however gave him permission to converse to different groups.”We thank Russell for his contributions and dedications to our crew and neighborhood whereas wishing him the most effective as he continues his profession,” the crew posted on its social media channels final week, including, “We are excited to enhance this offseason and can have the flexibleness to get higher via the draft and free company.”After signing a almost quarter-billion-dollar extension earlier than enjoying a down in Denver, Wilson contended the Broncos had threatened to bench him for the ultimate 9 video games final season if he did not push again his $37 million damage assure in his contract.Wilson declined to modify his deal and began seven extra video games earlier than getting benched in what Payton insisted was a soccer transfer, not a monetary one.The transfer additionally comes lower than two weeks after Steelers normal supervisor Omar Khan stated the crew had “full religion” in Pickett, a former star subsequent door on the University of Pittsburgh who has struggled to be a distinction maker at an important place on the sphere.Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has defended Pickett at each flip because the Steelers chosen him with the twentieth total decide within the 2022 draft. Tomlin admitted within the days after Pittsburgh’s loss to Buffalo within the playoffs that 2024 can be a “big” 12 months for Pickett and the plan was to usher in competitors throughout coaching camp.That competitors now possible will not be on the favored Rudolph — who will develop into a free agent on Wednesday — however as an alternative a participant with a doubtlessly Hall of Fame caliber resume who has only one playoff win since 2016 and struggled to slot in in Denver.Wilson joins a crew that has loads of youth on offense in operating backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and vast receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, and stars on protection in perennial All-Pro outdoors linebacker T.J. Watt and security Minkah Fitzpatrick.With Watt and Fitzpatrick each of their primes, Pittsburgh seems to be in a hurry to shut the hole between itself and the AFC’s elite, a membership the Steelers have not been a a part of for no less than a half-decade. Team president Art Rooney II stated in January it was “time to get some wins” within the playoffs, one thing Pittsburgh hasn’t executed since beating Kansas City within the divisional spherical in 2016.Enter Wilson and first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, employed final month to revive a unit that has completed twenty first or worse in factors per recreation 4 occasions within the final 5 years.Getting Wilson on a budget offers Pittsburgh loads of flexibility in free company because it seems to be to handle positions alongside the offensive and defensive traces in addition to the secondary and inside linebacker. The crew lower a number of gamers — particularly veteran defensive again Patrick Peterson and heart Mason Cole — in latest weeks to create extra flexibility and Wilson’s arrival alerts an “all-in” method with the crew in its longest drought between postseason victories since Franco Harris made the “Immaculate Reception” greater than 5 many years in the past.___AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed.
Russell Wilson is heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback has agreed to sign a one-year deal with the Steelers, a particular person acquainted with the main points advised The Associated Press on Sunday night time.
The particular person, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of the contract hasn’t been finalized, stated Wilson will obtain the veteran’s minimal of $1.21 million whereas the Denver Broncos pay the rest of his $39 million wage.
Wilson posted his intentions on X, the platform previously generally known as Twitter, saying: “Year 13. Grateful. (at)Steelers.”
The 35-year-old Wilson was 11-19 in two seasons with the Broncos after being acquired in a commerce from Seattle. He bounced again from a dreadful 2022 season and threw 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and solely eight interceptions, however nonetheless misplaced his job to Jarrett Stidham after going 7-8 in coach Sean Payton’s first season final 12 months.
Wilson led Seattle to eight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in 10 seasons with the Seahawks.
The Steelers misplaced a wild-card playoff recreation with Mason Rudolph as their beginning quarterback. Rudolph went 3-0 after changing Kenny Pickett, who was 7-5 earlier than taking place with an damage. Mitch Trubisky began the opposite two video games and went 0-2.
Pittsburgh is scheduled to play the Broncos in Denver this upcoming season — and the sport might function a return by Wilson. The NFL is anticipated to launch its league schedule in May.
Last week, the Broncos knowledgeable Wilson they’d launch him when the brand new league 12 months begins Wednesday — however gave him permission to converse to different groups.
“We thank Russell for his contributions and dedications to our crew and neighborhood whereas wishing him the most effective as he continues his profession,” the crew posted on its social media channels final week, including, “We are excited to enhance this offseason and can have the flexibleness to get higher via the draft and free company.”
After signing a almost quarter-billion-dollar extension earlier than enjoying a down in Denver, Wilson contended the Broncos had threatened to bench him for the ultimate 9 video games final season if he did not push again his $37 million damage assure in his contract.
Wilson declined to modify his deal and began seven extra video games earlier than getting benched in what Payton insisted was a soccer transfer, not a monetary one.
The transfer additionally comes lower than two weeks after Steelers normal supervisor Omar Khan stated the crew had “full religion” in Pickett, a former star subsequent door on the University of Pittsburgh who has struggled to be a distinction maker at an important place on the sphere.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin has defended Pickett at each flip because the Steelers chosen him with the twentieth total decide within the 2022 draft. Tomlin admitted within the days after Pittsburgh’s loss to Buffalo within the playoffs that 2024 can be a “big” 12 months for Pickett and the plan was to usher in competitors throughout coaching camp.
That competitors now possible will not be on the favored Rudolph — who will develop into a free agent on Wednesday — however as an alternative a participant with a doubtlessly Hall of Fame caliber resume who has only one playoff win since 2016 and struggled to slot in in Denver.
Wilson joins a crew that has loads of youth on offense in operating backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and vast receivers George Pickens and Diontae Johnson, and stars on protection in perennial All-Pro outdoors linebacker T.J. Watt and security Minkah Fitzpatrick.
With Watt and Fitzpatrick each of their primes, Pittsburgh seems to be in a hurry to shut the hole between itself and the AFC’s elite, a membership the Steelers have not been a a part of for no less than a half-decade. Team president Art Rooney II stated in January it was “time to get some wins” within the playoffs, one thing Pittsburgh hasn’t executed since beating Kansas City within the divisional spherical in 2016.
Enter Wilson and first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, employed final month to revive a unit that has completed twenty first or worse in factors per recreation 4 occasions within the final 5 years.
Getting Wilson on a budget offers Pittsburgh loads of flexibility in free company because it seems to be to handle positions alongside the offensive and defensive traces in addition to the secondary and inside linebacker. The crew lower a number of gamers — particularly veteran defensive again Patrick Peterson and heart Mason Cole — in latest weeks to create extra flexibility and Wilson’s arrival alerts an “all-in” method with the crew in its longest drought between postseason victories since Franco Harris made the “Immaculate Reception” greater than 5 many years in the past.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed.
