Russell Wilson is looking to resurrect his fading career as the new starting quarterback for the New York Giants. How that plays out is anyone’s guess right now.
One thing is certain: Wilson still has enough talent to win some games. He went 6-5 last season as the starter in Pittsburgh, leading the Steelers to a wild-card playoff berth — even if it was short-lived. He threw for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns with a 63.7% completion rate.
NFL Analyst Believes Russell Wilson Can Still Cook
The cringy term “Let Russ Cook” might be in the rearview mirror, but some think his move to New York could spark a dramatic career turnaround. The 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback has a real shot to make some noise.
James Jones — a one-time Super Bowl champion with the Packers in 2011 — went on a bold rant defending Wilson during a recent appearance on FS1’s “The Facility.”
His main point? Wilson is finally in the right situation, with a rare chance to thrive under an offensive-minded head coach in Brian Daboll.
“I love it because I think this is a real opportunity for him to change his career around. I think this can turn into a couple of years with Russell Wilson,” Jones said. “I think he’s going to play well under Daboll. They have a number one wide receiver. I pray and hope they add Travis Hunter. Now you have two of them. But you got a really good defensive line. He’s in a really good situation.”
.@89JonesNTAF approves Russell Wilson signing a 1yr/$10.5M deal with the Giants:
“This is a real opportunity for him to change his career around.” pic.twitter.com/Zt02h1HHtN
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) March 26, 2025
When his co-hosts started laughing and poking holes in his take, the former Packers wideout turned NFL analyst didn’t back down. He thought Wilson had a solid year in Pittsburgh, especially compared to outgoing Giants quarterback Daniel Jones.
“What do you think Daniel Jones is going to look like in that Pittsburgh offense? He’s probably not going to look that good,” Jones said. “Russ looked good in that offense. With Brian Daboll, I think Russ can take a step and play some good football.”
Russell Wilson Had Polarizing Year With Steelers
Wilson’s 2024 season has been a polarizing topic around the league. Yes, the Steelers made the playoffs, and at times, he looked rejuvenated in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system. Still, it was a small and very hit-or-miss sample size.
According to PFSN’s QB+ metric, Wilson earned a 76.3 overall grade in 2024 based on his combined regular and postseason play.
After missing the season’s first six games, the one-time Super Bowl champ ranked No. 17 among all qualifying quarterbacks. He sat on the bench while Justin Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 start before eventually taking over the starting job.
After ranking 29th over the final four weeks, Wilson still managed to put together a decent performance on Wild Card Weekend. He finished with a B-minus grade on the week (80.5) and wasn’t the reason the Steelers lost to the Ravens.
Wilson posted a 0.10 EPA per dropback, 8.7 net yards per attempt, and a 40% third-down conversion rate. Those numbers were solid, though not game-changing. He didn’t cost Pittsburgh the win, but he didn’t deliver it either.
Now, the 36-year-old quarterback heads to the Giants on a one-year deal worth up to $21 million. Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t.
