DENVER — The numbers are in. The Broncos only had to pay $122.79 million to Russell Wilson for two seasons and 11 wins.
Wilson intends to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the quarterback announced Sunday night on his X social media account. He intends to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers because the Broncos intend to release Wilson after 2 p.m. Wednesday, the start of the new league year.
When the Broncos acquired Wilson in a trade from Seattle in March 2022, they not only surrendered two first-round draft picks and two second-round draft picks, they gave him a new contract that paid him $57 million in 2022 ($50 million signing bonus and $7 million in salary and roster bonus) and $28 million in 2023.
Wilson also had a guaranteed $39 million in 2024. But the Broncos announced they are releasing him instead. That saved the team from trigging another $37 million guarantee to Wilson for the 2025 season.
The Steelers, meanwhile, are only obligated to pay Wilson the $1.21 million minimum salary for players with at least 10 years experience.
So why did the Broncos eat so much of Wilson's money so he could play for the Steelers? Because he wasn't Denver head coach Sean Payton's type of quarterback. In two seasons with the Broncos, Wilson posted an 11-19 record despite a respectable ratio of 42 touchdown passes against 19 interceptions.
The Steelers play the Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High this season. There may be some boos, as there were when the Broncos opened the 2023 season at Seattle, where Wilson played the first 10 seasons of his career.
Russell Wilson
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