Russell Wilson’s 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers had its ups and downs. He went 6-5 as the starting quarterback, after taking over for Justin Fields, and watched his team collapse down the stretch. The Steelers were defeated 28-14 in a wild-card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Aaron Rodgers might be the most polarizing quarterback in free agency this offseason, but Wilson seemed to have that dubious honor in 2024. Wilson had the opportunity in Pittsburgh to prove to the league that he is not the toxic teammate he was portrayed as coming out of Seattle and Denver.
Russell Wilson Jump-Starts Giants Career After Leaving Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is universally known as a hard-scrabble, blue-collar city, a town full of hard-working people who value a nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic. Russell Wilson seemed like a surprising mismatch due to his alleged diva tendencies, but he quickly won over his new teammates and Steelers fans by showing he was more than a football player.
Wilson opened a “Why Not You” center in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, partnering with the Boys & Girls Club with a stated effort to help children fight poverty through education. He made a lasting impact with his charitable endeavors.
However, Wilson struggled at times to get the Steelers in the win column after returning from a calf injury that shut him down at training camp. He missed the first six games of the 2024 season. Wilson threw for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns while posting a 63.7% completion percentage last season.
Pros and Cons of Giants’ Signing QB Russell Wilson https://t.co/EPKQg5PiaF
— Patricia Traina (@Patricia_Traina) April 9, 2025
Wilson’s numbers weren’t awful in 2024, leading the New York Giants to hand him a one-year contract worth $10.5 million contract (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) which can grow to $21 million with incentives. He’s already making an impact in the New York community after raising $3 million for charity.
Hanging Out With New Giants Teammates This Offseason
Wilson appears to be fully committed to being a team leader in New York. He posted a photo with new teammates Daniel Bellinger and Greg Dulcich, writing an enthusiastic five-word message about a recent offseason workout: “Great work with the boys!!”
Wilson and Dulcich know each other from their playing days together in Denver. Dulcich was a third-round pick of the Broncos in 2022, whereas Bellinger has spent his entire three-year career in New York.
The 10-time Pro Bowler did the same thing when he first signed with the Steelers. Prior to the start of the 2024 season, Wilson was seen working out with Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth and receivers Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson in San Diego.
Wilson enjoyed a strong start to his time in Pittsburgh, highlighted by a massive shootout win against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. He threw for 414 yards and three touchdowns in that 44-38 win.
However, Wilson struggled during the Steelers’ five-game losing streak (including playoffs) to end the year. PFSN’s QB+ metric gave him an overall regular season grade of a C, ranking him 17th out of all quarterbacks.