For the first time in over a decade the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for a starting quarterback and their search may result in them landing on a former Denver Broncos star.
FOX Sports NFL writer Greg Auman predicted that the Chiefs would sign Russell Wilson. The former Seahawks, Steelers and most recently Giants gunslinger would start for KC while Patrick Mahomes recovers from a torn ACL that he suffered late last season.
Mahomes is expected to return and make a full recovery but the timeline means it’s likely a backup will be needed to play at the start of the season. And the Chiefs will have a different backup than they’ve had in recent times. Since Chad Henne retired after the 2022 season, Blaine Gabbert, Carson Wentz and last year, Gardner Minshew, have all occupied the role. But Minshew, like the rest, has moved on leaving an opening on a team with playing time and high expectations.
ESPN ranked Wilson among the best free agents left. Though fellow vets at the position Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins and Joe Flacco are still available. Wilson is 37 coming into this year, after last fall where he made three starts and appeared in six games for the New York Giants as they pivoted to youngster Jaxson Dart. It came a year after starting 11 games for the Steelers before getting pulled.
Teams are 23-35 in the last 58 games Wilson has started over the last five years for four separate teams. The 10-time Pro Bowler, including in the 2024 and 2021 seasons, sandwiching his Broncos tenure.
Wilson’s time in Denver is legendary for how bad it went, being known as both part of the worst trade and worst contract extension in NFL history. After one year with Sean Payton, Wilson was cut and the Broncos drafted Bo Nix. There has since been some bad blood between Payton and Wilson, which would make for a fun dynamic if the two were in the AFC West.
The Broncos took back the division from the Chiefs, after nine-straight titles from KC. But it was in part Wilson who helped the Broncos take the first step, when he led Denver in Oct. 2023 to the team’s first win over KC since 2015, ending a 16-game win streak against the Broncos.