Free agent quarterback Russell Wilson seems to want a return to the Pittsburgh Steelers to occur. Yet, that seems unlikely to happen. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network said he would be surprised if Wilson returned to the Steelers in 2025.
“Nothing shocks me, but I would be very surprised if Russell Wilson under any circumstances is back in Pittsburgh,” Pelissero said on The Rich Eisen Show. “They’re now making it clear that they would like to sign Aaron Rodgers over Russell Wilson. He is no better and maybe even lower than their third choice.”
Pelissero is not the first one to say this. Sources told PennLive at the NFL Combine that Wilson’s end of the season struggles paired with a report that offensive coordinator Arthur Smith took away his freedom at the line of scrimmage ruffled feathers in the building.
It would take a mending of relationships for Wilson to return to the Steelers. Even if Aaron Rodgers chooses to go elsewhere, it is not a certainty the team would pivot back to Wilson.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants have pursued Wilson. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN believes the Browns may be the frontrunners to land Wilson after a visit to Berea.
"From what I’m hearing, the Cleveland Browns still have interest in Russell Wilson. They’re still pursuing that angle, but they have Carson Wentz as a contingency plan. There’s some mutual interest there. If Wilson falls through, Kirk Cousins would be a prime option for the Browns, I’m told, but he’s simply not available right now," Fowler said.
That could mean Wilson will join Kenny Pickett with the Browns in creating a room full of former Steelers quarterbacks. For Wilson, it might be his best chance to start in 2025, even if that would be against the team that he hopes to play for in the Steelers.
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