Steelers fans reacted with sympathy — and tough love — after Russell Wilson was booed off the field by Giants fans during Thursday night’s stunning win over the Eagles
17:39 ET, 10 Oct 2025Updated 17:39 ET, 10 Oct 2025
Russell Wilson was benched in favor of Jaxson Dart
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Russell Wilson was benched in favor of Jaxson Dart(Image: Getty)
Thursday night in East Rutherford might have been a statement win for the New York Giants, but for Russell Wilson, it was something else entirely: a gut punch.
When rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, whose mom was emotional after the game, was taken off for a concussion check late in the third quarter, MetLife Stadium saw a familiar figure step in. Wilson, once a perennial Pro Bowler, jogged onto the field for what was supposed to be a brief fill-in appearance.
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One handoff, one low incompletion, and two plays later, the stadium erupted — not in cheers, but in boos directed at Wilson, who was told he is playing his way out of the Hall of Fame.
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The 36-year-old quarterback, now a backup behind Dart, left the field to a wave of jeers that felt both cruel and inevitable. Moments later, Dart returned to finish what he started, leading the Giants to a 34–17 victory over the Eagles.
But for Wilson, the story wasn’t the win. It was the sound of 70,000 fans turning on him at once.
And nowhere did that moment resonate more than back in Pittsburgh — the city that saw Wilson’s last real run as a starter in 2024. On the Steelers’ Reddit page, fans reacted with a mix of empathy and resignation.
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“Not gonna lie, I hate this for him,” one fan wrote. “He should’ve hung it up before he even came to us.” Another echoed the sentiment: “After that first season in Denver, it was time to walk away.”
Others focused less on football and more on humanity. “He’s a bit corny, sure,” one user said, “but he’s a good guy. He’s had an amazing career. Watching him get booed like that sucked.”
Another added, “It’s hard to turn down another few million, even when it’s over.” Fans even tallied up the financials — pointing out that Wilson has made over $130 million since the Broncos signed him, including deals with the Steelers and now the Giants.
Wilson played 15 games with the Steelers
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Wilson played 15 games with the Steelers(Image: Getty)
“Hard to feel too bad when that’s the payday,” one commenter admitted.
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Still, the moment sparked a deeper conversation about legacy — and how quickly it can unravel. “He’s played himself out of the Hall of Fame,” one user claimed, referencing analysts like Richard Sherman and Tony Gonzalez, who have said the same on air.
But others disagreed. “He had a dominant stretch,” another fan countered. “A bad ending doesn’t erase a great prime.”
"He looked scared out there,” one fan wrote. “It’s tough to see a guy who used to command games look like that.” Another pointed out, “He’s still a Walter Payton Man of the Year. He deserves better than getting booed for two plays.”