Russell Wilson is the Steelers' starting quarterback in 2024. That feels like a Mad Lib entry considering he signed a five-year deal with the Broncos after being traded there in 2022. Wilson only lasted two seasons out West before a falling out with the team led to his demise in the Mile High City, which seemed to mark a significant turning point in his fading career.
To the surprise of many, Wilson has resurrected his career in the Steel City, recapturing some of the magic he first showed immediately after Seattle drafted him in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He spent 10 years with the Seahawks, then two with the Broncos, before landing with the Steelers in free agency. Pittsburgh was able to afford the one-time Super Bowl champ because he's still getting a hefty payday from the Denver front office.
Here are the details of Wilson's contract and how much the Broncos are paying him not to play for them this season. NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule Russell Wilson contract details Wilson and a fourth-round pick were traded to Denver for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, Drew Lock, Shelby Harris, and Noah Fant in 2022. The quarterback also needed a new contract, and since the Broncos thought they had found their franchise quarterback, they gave him a massive deal.
Denver inked Wilson to a five-year, $245 million contract extension that kept him under contract through the 2026 season. When Wilson was signed, the Broncos also hired Nathaniel Hackett as head coach. He struggled and was fired before he made it through one season.
Denver then traded for Sean Payton from the Saints, and he took over as the head coach. Payton and Wilson didn't mesh, so, despite Wilson's stats improving in Year 2 with the Broncos, they decided to move on from him. However, cutting Wilson came with a hefty dead cap penalty.
His deal also had an injury clause that fully guaranteed a large portion of his remaining salary, so when it became clear they were going to move on from him, the Broncos benched Wilson for the final two games of the 2023 season. Once he was released, Wilson could sign with any team he wanted for as low as the veteran minimum. He landed with the Steelers, who signed him to a one-year, $1.
21 million contract. MORE: NFL playoff picture | Week 12 NFL Power Rankings | Week 12 NFL picks | Week 12 NFL picks against the spread How much are the Broncos paying Russell Wilson? Denver paid Wilson $57 million in 2022, and that dropped to $28 million last season. Since they released him, the Broncos are on the hook for paying him a whopping $37.
790 million this season. Through two seasons with the team and the dead cap payment for 2024, Denver paid Wilson a total of $122.79 million.
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