Badgers fans might want to grab some Terrible Towels as Russell Wilson has officially joined the Steelers. The former Wisconsin standout signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal after being released by the Denver Broncos on March 4.
You might wonder why Wilson agreed to such a modest contract, considering his Super Bowl-winning credentials. Well, the Denver Broncos will owe Wilson a hefty $38.5 million next season, allowing him to opt for a team-friendly deal with his new team. Wilson’s tenure with the Broncos was challenging, marked by a blockbuster trade that cost the team numerous first-round picks and players. Despite signing a lucrative five-year, $245 million extension with the Broncos before even taking the field, Wilson’s stint ended abruptly, resulting in an $84 million dead cap hit for the Broncos.
During his two years with the Broncos, Wilson appeared in 30 games, throwing for 6,594 yards and 42 touchdowns. However, he also had 19 interceptions, 11 of which occurred in his first season. Despite improvements in his performance, Wilson was benched by new head coach Sean Payton towards the end of the 2023 season.
Aware of his impending benching and likely release, Wilson embarked on a free agency tour after his official release from the Broncos. He met with the New York Giants before ultimately signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The news of Wilson’s signing broke at 1:00 a.m. EST on March 11, marking the first significant free agent signing of the new league year.