(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Following his release from the Denver Broncos, Russell Wilson didn’t need to wait too long to find his next home.

After meeting with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, Wilson wound up joining Mike Tomlin’s group on a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum. Days later, the Steelers bolstered the QB room by acquiring Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick that can be upgraded to a fourth based on playing time.

According to a report from Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the Giants made it clear to Wilson that they couldn’t guarantee any “playing time” for 2024, as they plan to continue starting Daniel Jones:

“There’s a pattern here, too. The Giants had an exploratory meeting last week with Russell Wilson, and the team didn’t make any promises about playing time, according to league sources. That’s been the Giants’ approach as they’ve built toward the 2024 season with Jones as the expected starter.”

They wound up signing another former Seattle Seahawk, Drew Lock, to back up Jones in the Meadowlands. Lock was traded to Seattle as part of the Broncos-Wilson blockbuster trade in the 2022 offseason.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has already informed Fields that the plan is for Wilson to be the team’s starting quarterback for 2024. In fact, Wilson’s arrival is what prompted Kenny Pickett to seek (and receive) a trade, with Pittsburgh dealing him to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.

The Steelers Are The Ideal Landing Spot For Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson needed to find a team that would let him showcase his abilities while proving he’s still a starting QB in this league. It’s a nice bonus that he joined a Pittsburgh team that made the postseason in 2023 despite using three different QBs (Pickett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph) who combined for 13 touchdown passes.

Wilson had a stellar bounce-back year in Denver last season, completing 66.4 percent of pass attempts for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns against eight interceptions. And that was on a Denver team with a mediocre defense, a shaky o-line and zero 1,000-yard rushers or receivers.

The Steelers haven’t had Pro Bowl-like play at QB since Ben Roethlisberger’s last healthy season in 2018. With Wilson now guiding the offense, Pittsburgh just mind manage to re-emerge as a contender in the AFC.