Aaron Rodgers has dominated NFL offseason headlines with his seemingly never-ending saga to find a new team. The Giants were in the running for the 20-year vet, but once the Pittsburgh Steelers became the likely landing spot for Rodgers, New York opted to sign Russell Wilson.
Wilson joined the Giants after the team had already signed Jameis Winston. He expects to start but also has to deal with the fact that he wasn’t New York’s first choice this offseason.
Russell Wilson Opens Up About Giants’ Signing
The Rodgers saga continues to drag on for Pittsburgh, but New York is set at quarterback for the 2025 season. There’s a chance they add one with the third-overall pick in this year’s draft, but Wilson is moving forward as the starter. He recently had his introductory press conference, and the NFL’s Nick Shook broke it down.
Wilson said, “Yeah, I expect to be the starter and come in here and be ready to rock and roll every day.” He was tasked with a similar role last year in Pittsburgh, where he missed the first six games with a preseason calf injury. Wilson led the Steelers to a Wild Card Berth, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 11 games.
The Steelers let the 36-year-old test free agency this offseason, and New York signed him to a one-year, $10.5 million contract. The Giants were linked to Rodgers this offseason and had already signed Winston to a two-year deal, so it’s fair to say Wilson wasn’t their first choice.
He was asked about that in his press conference, responding, “You know the thing about it is, first of all Aaron Rodgers is a tremendous football player. He’s done some amazing things in this league, I’ve been fortunate to be able to do some great things too. And really (all) I’m focused on is right now and what we can do here. That’s been my focus since I’ve signed and everything else, and also along the way is finding a place that continues to believe in you.
“Coming here, obviously being in New York is an exciting place to play, it’s a place that wants to win, a place that knows how to win, and has won before. For me it’s bringing everything I know, all the experiences, all the touchdowns, all the wins, but also all the love and passion for the game to this locker room, and that’s what I’m excited for, and it’s going to be a special, special things, and we’ve got to go work towards it and do it.”
Wilson isn’t the type of guy to react negatively when things don’t go his way, at least publicly. No, he wasn’t New York’s first option, but the starting job is his, and he’ll undoubtedly work hard to prove that the team made the right choice.