The Pittsburgh Steelers have had quite an eventful offseason. Typically, Pittsburgh is patient with their quarterbacks, and many believed Kenny Pickett would have several seasons to prove himself. However, the Steelers surprised everyone by signing nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum. This decision upset Pickett, who felt entitled to the starting job, leading him to request a trade, and the Steelers sent him out of town.
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Steelers' Justin Fields watches Russell Wilson throw the ball.
Now, Wilson joins the Steelers eager to make the football world forget about his last two seasons with the Denver Broncos. Wilson was traded to the Broncos after a remarkable career with the Seattle Seahawks, including a Super Bowl victory. He signed a five-year, $242 million deal with Denver, but struggled in his first season. Despite improved performance in 2023, the Broncos still couldn't win games, and Wilson only secured 11 victories in two seasons.
Fed up with Wilson, the Broncos decided to pay a significant amount to offload him. The Steelers seized the opportunity to sign Wilson at the veteran minimum, exciting both fans and the team.
Steelers star Cam Heyward discussed this development on the Up & Adams show with Kay Adams. During the interview, Heyward shared the harsh reality he presented to Wilson when discussing the future with the Steelers.
“We had met at Pro Bowls before and just been around each other at different functions. I was out at a conference in Arizona and I came back to my room and me and Russ just talked for about two hours. We talked ball and I knew he was having conversations with the Steelers.”
Heyward was familiar with Wilson, but when he learned that Wilson was seriously considering the Steelers, he made sure Wilson was prepared for what to expect if he decided to join Pittsburgh.
“The main thing I just told him was that this is not the place for glitz and glamor. It’s not LA and it’s not Atlanta. This is a place where the gladiators come and compete every day. Just hearing from him, he was receptive to that.”
Heyward was thrilled with how Wilson responded to his sentiments about playing for Pittsburgh.
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Russell Wilson tries to evade Cameron Heyward during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Heyward went on to detail what it has been like having Wilson as a teammate.
“He wanted to compete and I think just getting to know him, he is so detail orientated and he does the little things. It has really benefited a lot of our young guys just picking up that knowledge at an early age. He is going to unlock a lot of stuff not just for him, but for the team.”
Steelers Will Have Multiple Wins Having Russell Wilson In Town
Heyward believes that having Wilson in town is a significant win for the organization. Despite the jokes and memes about Wilson's approach to the game, which surfaced during his struggles with the Broncos, no one mocked him during his successful tenure in Seattle. Now, Wilson is eager to prove he can still play quarterback at an elite level.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin shakes hands with former Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson after a game.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin appreciates a player like Wilson, as they share similar approaches to life and football. So far, Wilson appears to be in a much better place, and Steelers fans are excited to see what he has left. As the 2024 season approaches, it's likely that Wilson will be the starter, playing to secure a long-term deal in Pittsburgh. Heyward's perspective on Wilson adds to the excitement surrounding this development.
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