It's Clear Steelers' Russell Wilson's Resurgence Is The Result Of Situational Football As JJ Watt Calls Out Sean Payton

When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed quarterback Russell Wilson during the 2024 offseason, it was met with mixed reactions from the fans and the media. While Wilson has been to nine Pro Bowls and two Super Bowls, winning one, he picked up a bad reputation. That was only made worse by his time with the Denver Broncos. The media called him a diva and said he was selfish, caring more about himself than his team. That was worrisome since that wasn't the kind of player that would fare well in Pittsburgh. However, after several months in the Steel City, Wilson is proving it is all about the situation.

Initially drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was the darling of Emerald City for years. Eventually, things began to sour between him and his Head Coach, Pete Carroll. They negotiated a trade with the Broncos, who hoped Wilson would serve as the savior of their team. 

The Broncos made a coaching change after the 2022 season, bringing in Sean Payton. Reports said Payton felt unsure of Wilson from his first interview with the team. He doubted he could turn him back into a Super Bowl winner. After Payton benched Wilson, the Broncos paid a lot of money to have the quarterback go away, and the Steelers gladly snatched him up. Former NFL defensive end JJ Watt, brother of Steelers' TJ Watt, was on The Pat McAfee Show recently and said that "situational football" isn't just important for rookies, citing Wilson. 

"I look at that situation last year, look at Russell Wilson with Sean Payton," explained Watt. "Clearly, that wasn't working out, whether it was between the two of them, whether it was a one-way street, whatever it was. Everybody paints Russ out as having such a bad year, but when you actually sit down and look at it, not that bad of a year. Goes over to the Steelers now and is playing phenomenal football. Just because it didn't work out in one spot doesn't mean it's not working out in another. Sean Payton clearly had his eyes on a different quarterback."

The relationship between Payton and Wilson seemed doomed from the start. It felt as if Payton was angry he inherited Wilson and intentionally tried to undercut him, all while being seen screaming and berating Wilson on the sidelines during games. He complained that Wilson was "kissing too many babies." Wilson was made fun of for being cheesy and too "rah rah." 

Wilson arrives in Pittsburgh, and it immediately feels like he belongs. His hard work, determination, and leadership skills have made him a fan favorite. Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Wilson are a match made in heaven. Wilson brings the leadership the Steelers' offense has been lacking since Ben Roethlisberger retired, and it shows. The Steelers are 9-3, largely thanks to his efforts. 

Steelers' Russell Wilson Still Not Given The Respect He Deserves

When the Steelers went to play the Cincinnati Bengals, they knew they would have to score a bunch of points to win. This wouldn't be a game where Chris Boswell could just kick field goals. 

The concern is that the team had been struggling in the red zone and would now have to show they could score. Wilson put on a masterful performance overall. He managed to win a shootout with Joe Burrow, arguably the best quarterback in the league. 

After the game, insider Mark Kaboly expressed frustration that Wilson was not getting more credit. He said the game would have run on a continuous loop on TV if it had been Patrick Mahomes from the Kansas City Chiefs rather than Wilson.

Do you agree with Watt that this situation makes a difference for Wilson? Click to comment below.

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