Russell Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million extension with the Denver Broncos before the 2022 season, but he was released by the team before the extension began. The Broncos released Wilson when free agency opened up earlier this month, and he quickly found a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite releasing him, Denver still owes Wilson $39 million for this season alone, with a dead cap hit of $85 million for the next two years. Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked if it was difficult to release Wilson due to the money owed, and he bluntly replied, “No.”
The Broncos had acquired Wilson in a blockbuster trade from the Seattle Seahawks before the 2022 season, giving up multiple draft picks along with players Noah Fant, Shelby Harris, and Drew Lock. After a disappointing 5-12 season, the Broncos replaced head coach Nathaniel Hackett with Sean Payton. Despite having a crucial win over the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, Wilson eventually lost his starting job to Jarrett Stidham. During the 2023 season, Wilson played in 15 games, with 3,070 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes, and eight interceptions.
In a surprising move, the Steelers also traded for Justin Fields, who is expected to back up Wilson. However, many believe that Fields may not remain in the backup role for long. The acquisition of Fields adds a layer of uncertainty to the quarterback situation in Pittsburgh. Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to the report on Wilson’s move to the Steelers. Fans can follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on their site and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter for updates on the latest developments in the sports world.
