Russell Wilson likely entered the offseason looking for an opportunity to start for a winning team. In signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the 35-year-old quarterback not only checked that box, but he put himself in prime position to revive his Hall of Fame candidacy.
While I am sure that my gold-jacket assertion will illicit eye rolls from many observers who watched the nine-time Pro Bowler struggle in the Mile High City, the marriage between Wilson and the Steelers should be a match made in heaven — especially at the bargain-basement cost of $1.2 million, a price tag that’s possible because Wilson’s former employer must pay most of the $39 million still owed to the QB for the upcoming season.
In Pittsburgh, Wilson not only joins a storied franchise synonymous with winning, but he gets to work with a future Hall of Fame coach whose staff adheres to an offensive philosophy that perfectly meshes with the one-time Super Bowl champion’s talents. With a supporting cast that features a beefy offensive line surrounded by dynamic playmakers and a defense loaded with blue-chip talents, Wilson has a chance to turn back the clock to his best years in Seattle.
I know it has been a minute since we’ve talked about Wilson managing the game at an elite level as a youngster, but reprising that role could enable the veteran to squash the narrative hovering over his game. And to be fair to the man, his two-year sojourn with the Denver Broncos wasn’t as utterly hopeless as many seem to think. Wilson compiled a 42:19 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 90.9 passer rating during that span, showing significant improvement in his second year with the team. In 2023, Russ completed 66.4 percent of his passes with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions before getting benched for the final two games. Considering the Steelers have not had a signal-caller reach 25 touchdown passes since Ben Roethlisberger threw 33 in 2020, Wilson upgrades the quarterback room with his experience and winning pedigree. And yes, it’s officially his room now, with Pittsburgh trading former first-round pick Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.
Furthermore, Wilson’s game perfectly aligns with new Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s scheme, which combines a ground-and-pound approach with a complementary play-action passing game featuring vertical elements. Over his three-year tenure as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Smith’s offense used play-action at the second-highest rate in the NFL (32.3 percent), per ESPN. By Pro Football Focus’ count, Wilson completed 64.7 percent of his passes last season with an 11:1 TD-to-INT ratio and a 118.1 passer rating when throwing off play-action. Add in some additional numbers from Next Gen Stats — Wilson posted a 6:1 TD-to-INT ratio and 111.7 passer rating on passes of 20-plus air yards — and you can see that the veteran’s strengths match Smith’s schematic approach.
An excellent ball handler with outstanding arm strength and range, Wilson excels as a play-action playmaker, targeting deep receivers down the field or outside the numbers. Following play-action fakes with the Seahawks, he routinely dropped perfect rainbows to DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett on various go balls and deep overs. Wilson also tossed dimes to receivers and tight ends on various bootlegs, with targets positioned on different levels to give the veteran easy high/low reads on the move.
Smith utilized similar tactics during his days as the Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator, helping Ryan Tannehill rediscover his game after arriving in Nashville via trade from the Miami Dolphins. Tannehill flourished under Smith’s tutelage, winning Comeback Player of the Year in 2019. In two seasons with Smith as his OC, Tannehill went 18-8 with a 55:13 TD-to-INT ratio, 67.3 completion percentage and 110.6 passer rating. Considering the Titans made back-to-back playoff appearances with Tannehill finishing among the top five in passer rating in each of those seasons (he led the NFL in 2019 with a 117.5 mark and finished fifth in 2020 with a 106.5 rating), Smith seems like the perfect coach to fuel Russ’ renaissance and help the Steelers become viable contenders in 2024.
