Russell Wilson might be nearing the end of his football career, but according to the Seattle Seahawks icon, he still has options to play. Or maybe, one option. Wilson told the New York Post that he has an offer from the New York Jets to back up Geno Smith in 2026.
Yes, that's ironic since Smith backed up Wilson for several seasons with the Seahawks. Why would Wilson want to keep playing so badly, having made more than enough money to live comfortably for several hundred more years, that he would be willing to stay as QB2?
Or, possibly, Wilson is just being a smart businessman and saying he has the option from the Jets because he wants to see if CBS will pay him a bit more to become a full-time talking head on Sundays ahead of NFL games. He appears to have that option, too.
Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson claims to be weighing his options
The monetary difference is probably not overly great at this point. If the quarterback is being offered a backup role, that isn't going to pay a large amount, relatively speaking. Studio analysts who are former players can easily earn in the low millions, likely the same amount that Wilson would get paid to play for New York.
What is odd for Seattle Seahawks fans is that Russell Wilson left after the 2021 season, and yet he remains interesting because of the high level of success he had in the Pacific Northwest. He is still the best and most productive quarterback in team history, but it feels as if he left the NFL a long time ago.
Should he play for the Jets, he becomes interesting because of the situation. He would reunite with Geno Smith, and one of the two former Seahawks quarterbacks is going to be behind center each week. Almost like a weird alternative universe for Seattle's team between 2019 and 2021.
If Wilson becomes a CBS studio analyst, he would be even more front and center in 12s' faces. Seattle fans would have to watch Wilson do work before games start on Sundays. One can choose to watch the CBS show or not.
To be fair, Wilson's manner of speaking will likely come across quite well as a pundit. In the long term, he would be more successful than returning for maybe one year with the Jets. Saying he has an offer from both CBS and an NFL team, though, might only raise his asking price from each. That's just smart business.
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