Russell Wilson will be traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback has agreed to a one-year contract with the Steelers, a person familiar with the details told The Associated Press on Sunday night.
Wilson will receive the veteran minimum of $1.21 million, and the Denver Broncos will pay the remainder of his $39 million annual salary, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal has not yet been finalized.
Wilson posted his intentions. I posted this on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: (with the Steelers)”
Wilson, 35, went 11-19 in two seasons with the Broncos after being acquired in a trade from Seattle. He bounced back from a disastrous 2022 season, throwing for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, but Jarrett Stidham, who went 7-8 last year in Coach Sean Payton's first season, I was robbed of my job.
Wilson led Seattle to eight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl championship in 10 seasons with the Seahawks.
The Steelers lost a wild-card playoff game with Mason Rudolph as the starting quarterback. Rudolph went 3-0 replacing Kenny Pickett, who was 7-5 before leaving the game with an injury. Mitch Trubisky started the remaining two games but went 0-2.
Pittsburgh is scheduled to play the Broncos in Denver next season, and Wilson could return for that game. The NFL is expected to release its league schedule in May.
Broncos last week informed Wilson that he would be released. He was given permission to speak with other teams when the league's new year begins on Wednesday.
“We thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community and wish him the best in his future career.” Posted by the team “We are excited to improve this offseason and have the flexibility to get better through the draft and free agency,” he added on the company's social media channels last week.
Wilson, who signed a nearly $250 million contract extension before going down in Denver, was benched for the final nine games of last season unless the Broncos relinquished the $37 million in injury guarantees in his contract. He claimed he was threatening her.
Wilson refused the contract adjustment and started seven more games before being benched for the game, which Payton claimed was a football move rather than financial reasons.
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Associated Press pro football writer Ernie Stapleton contributed.
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