Steelers Now
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN believes Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s loyalty to quarterback Russell Wilson could pop up during free agency. Wilson had a promising start with the Steelers in 2024, but he and the team collapsed down the stretch, losing five straight.
“Russell Wilson has made the Steelers a priority. He loved it there. He would like to be the quarterback there,” Fowler said on SportsCenter on Thursday. “Certainly, Mike Tomlin feels a commitment or a loyalty to Wilson that could show over time here in the next couple of weeks.”
For sure, it’s an offseason of uncertainty at the games most important position for the Steelers. Tomlin has a good working relationship with Wilson, but he has to do what’s best for the team, and an aging Russell Wilson leaves a lot to be desired.
NFL insider Adam Caplan thinks it’s doubtful that Russell Wilson will return to the Steelers in 2025. He even heard that some coaches wanted Wilson benched at the end of the 2024 season, but he thinks there’s a small chance that he returns due to the loyalty aspect.
“I’ve been on record and we’ll see what happens. It’s not impossible. I know there’s some people in the Steelers (organization) who would like to see him back. I think there’s some coaches who were hoping to bench him last season but (got) overruled, as I understand it,” Caplan told Scott Ferrall on Ferrall Coast to Coast.
Despite speculation that the Steelers will move on from him this offseason, Wilson is reportedly optimistic that he’ll be back in the Black and Gold in 2025. Wilson has an upbeat personality and oozes with positive energy, so the report by Adam Schefter of ESPN is not all that surprising.
“I saw Russell at the Super Bowl. He still thinks despite reports to the contrary, that there’s a realistic chance he’s going to be back in Pittsburgh,” Schefter said on his podcast. “That he’s talked about the future and what this offense and the personnel would look like with the Steelers. He’s operating like he’s definitely interested in being there.”
NFL insider Jay Glazer, who is close friends with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, does not think Wilson will be back with the Steelers in 2025. He also does not expect Wilson to reunite with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas.
“That ain’t gonna happen,” Glazer said about Wilson signing with the Raiders on the NBC Fantasy Football Happy Hour at Super Bowl media row. “That one is over. I don’t think that’s gonna happen, either (a return to Pittsburgh). I think you’ll see a new start for Russell somewhere.”
Dianna Russini of The Athletic is also hearing that Wilson’s tenure with the Black and Gold is done.
“I’m hearing the same thing,” Russini told Colin Cowherd of The Herd. “Those conversations started to happen at the end of the season. They decided, ‘Alright, we’re gonna probably most likely stick with Justin Fields here moving forward.”
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