After a storied career, including 10 Pro Bowl nods and a Super Bowl win, quarterback Russell Wilson recently announced his decision to retire from football. Wilson is landing on his feet, securing an analyst job with CBS Sports, following in the footsteps of endless greats of the game from years past.
However, according to two former NFL stars, we may not have seen the last of the Seattle Seahawks legend on the field.
Russell Wilson Retires From the NFL to Take On Analyst Role with CBS
NFL retirements, particularly at the quarterback position, can be volatile things. Brett Favre, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers are all high-profile examples of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks who have struggled with the proposition of calling it a day.
Wilson’s stock has taken a significant hit since leaving Seattle after 10 years in 2022, a departure that preceded uninspiring spells with three separate teams. This year, despite several teams needing quarterback help and limited options in the draft, Wilson was set to enter the season without a starting job for the first time in his career.
The fact that Wilson’s deal with CBS wasn’t announced until the start of June suggests the veteran was open to playing in 2026, but things didn’t work out. According to two former players, though, Wilson’s desire to return could yet be tested in 2026 if the right opportunity came knocking.
Two Former NFL Playmakers Predict a Potential Wilson Return in 2026
Speaking on their “4th and South” podcast, five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Jarvis Landry and Super Bowl-winning running back Leonard Fournette discussed Wilson’s situation. Both players agreed that despite his retirement, Wilson may have another chapter ahead of him on the NFL field.
Fournette asked his co-host: if a playoff-bound team lost its quarterback to injury mid-season, would Wilson receive a call? Both players agreed that he would, with Landry suggesting that his deal with CBS sets him up to walk straight into television after any potential comeback.
“I do think this is a good move for Russell Wilson,” Landry said. “I think it sets him up to be able to prove something in the time of the year that matters the most, the playoff time. And if he does that, he’s back in the league.”
“So it’s a good play by him and his team,” he continued. “I think it’s the right move, and he also sets himself up to be able to walk off the field, whenever that day actually does fulfill itself, and walk straight into TV.”
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Both players agreed that the negativity around Wilson is undeserved and that the quarterback still has what it takes to contribute at the highest level. Landry and Fournette were clear that they wouldn’t want to see a player get injured, but if recent years are anything to go by, there’s a non-zero chance their prediction comes true.
