Steelers Now
Not long after Pete Carroll was named the Las Vegas Raiders new head coach, many began linking the Raiders to Pittsburgh Steelers quarternack Russell Wilson, who is set to become a free agent in the coming months.
That gained some steam when The Athletic’s NFL insider Jeff Howe, who said there’s some truth to those beliefs.
“With Pete Carroll taking over the Raiders, one name I’ve heard to watch at QB: Russell Wilson,” Howe wrote. “They’ve mended fences, per source, and Wilson could be a stopgap while the Raiders develop a long-term answer.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network also said “keep an eye” on the Raiders in regards to a Carroll-Wilson reunion.
Carroll was asked about the rumors on Tuesday, and he said it’s way too early in the process. Free agency doesn’t start until March 12.
“It’s so early and we’re just in the midst of trying to find the puzzle pieces, not even putting them together yet, so I can’t even say. Free agency hasn’t come yet,” Carroll said on What the Football with Suzy Shuster and Amy Trask. “I promise you, if you’re a real competitor you’re not letting options get away from you.”
The Raiders are the odds-on favorite (+150) to land Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson in free agency, according to Bovada Sportsbook. The Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants are tied for the second-best odds at +850. With Carroll being named the new head coach in Las Vegas, a reunion with Wilson seems very likely.
Wilson and Carroll spent 10 seasons together in Seattle, and it was a quite successful decade at that. Wilson helped lead the Seahawks to a 104-53-1 record, two Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl XLVIII victory while being named to nine Pro Bowls.
Their relationship was a bit strained when the Seahawks traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos in 2022, but if he and Carroll have put the past behind them, a reunion is certainly not out of the question.
The Raiders will likely look to make a change at quarterback this offseason, but the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft keeps them out of reach of this year’s top two rookie quarterbacks — Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
The Steelers would like to sign one of their two incumbent quarterbacks to a long-term contract this offseason, president Art Rooney II said during his annual press conference with local beat writers on Monday.
Rooney said the team has decisions to make with both Wilson and Justin Fields as pending free agents, and pointed out that the players have decisions to make as well, but did not tip his hand as to whether he has a preference between the two.
“I think they’re both capable quarterbacks and my preference would be to sign one of them,” Rooney said. “So that’ll be the priority, and I think that will give us the best opportunity to move forward.”
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