It turns out former Denver Broncos starting quarterback Russell Wilson is still looking for work — and might even get to stay in the same city where he played in 2025.
“The Jets hosted Russell Wilson for a visit and are considering him as an option to be Geno Smith’s No. 2 quarterback, according to a source,” The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt wrote on his official X account on Tuesday. “Geno Smith was presented with various options at backup quarterback and he was excited about the prospect of Russell Wilson, per source. Jets and Wilson spoke at some point prior to the draft and scheduled Monday night’s visit then.”
Wilson played for the New York Giants in 2025, making 3 starts before he was benched in favor of rookie 1st round pick Jaxson Dart.
Broncos Made ‘Worst Trade of Decade’ for Wilson
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox called the Broncos’ 2022 trade for Russell Wilson the “Worst NFL Trade of the Last 10 Years” for the franchise.
The Broncos took on a then-NFL record $85 million in dead cap space spread out over the 2024 and 2025 seasons after they released Wilson following the 2023 season.
“The Denver Broncos’ ill-fated 2022 trade for Russell Wilson has largely been overshadowed by the disastrous deal Cleveland made for Deshaun Watson in the same offseason,” Knox wrote. “However, that doesn’t mean that Denver’s deal was a good one. In fact, the Wilson trade might be considered the worst of the last decade if not for the Watson debacle. The Broncos coughed up two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris and tight end Noah Fant to acquire Wilson and a fourth-round pick. The Broncos then signed Wilson to an extension worth $242.6 million over five years with $161 million guaranteed.”
Wilson, Sean Payton Butted Heads in 2023
The writing was on the wall for Wilson once Nathaniel Hackett was fired after one season as Denver’s head coach in 2022 and replaced with former New Orleans Saints head coach and Super Bowl champion Sean Payton.
Wilson and Payton famously butted heads, but the bottom line was Wilson went 11-19 over 2 seasons in Denver until he was eventually released following the 2023 season.
Wilson rejuvenated his career somewhat in 2024 with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a 1-year, $1.2 million contract.
After missing the first 6 games of the season due to injury — Justin Fields started in his place — Wilson returned to go 6-5 for the Steelers, who made the AFC Playoffs before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Wild Card Round, with Wilson going 20-of-29 passing for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Wilson signed a 1-year, $10.5 million contract with the New York Giants on March 27 — just one month before they selected Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Since Wilson left, other than the $85 million dead cap hit, things have been pretty great for the Broncos. They landed a franchise quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft with Bo Nix in the 1st round — and just 1 month after releasing Wilson — and have made the playoffs each of the last 2 seasons.
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