Despite speculation that Russell Wilson might leave the Pittsburgh Steelers to join the Las Vegas Raiders, it appears that’s not his intention. Serving as the starting quarterback for the Steelers this season, Wilson’s future with the team is somewhat uncertain since he signed a one-year contract last offseason and is set to become a free agent next month. Although he has expressed a desire to return to Pittsburgh, recent events have raised some doubts about his plans.
Last week, the Las Vegas Raiders hired former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, with whom Wilson shares a strong connection from their ten seasons together. This development led to reports suggesting Wilson could transition to the Raiders. NFL insider Jeff Howe from The Athletic noted that Carroll and Wilson have “mended fences” and that Wilson might serve as a “stopgap” option as the team seeks a long-term quarterback solution. “With Pete Carroll taking over the Raiders, one name I’ve heard to watch at QB: Russell Wilson. They’ve mended fences, per source, and Wilson could be a stopgap while the Raiders develop a long-term answer,” Howe stated in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
However, Wilson made it clear that this is not his plan; when questioned about a possible reunion with Carroll in Las Vegas, he emphasized his focus on returning to Pittsburgh next season. “Pete’s going to be a great coach, obviously,” Wilson remarked, according to Mark Long of the Associated Press. “He’s great at what he does. But I’m focused on the Steelers,” he added. While there is still much to unfold before he finalizes his plans for the upcoming season, it appears Wilson has no intention of leaving Pittsburgh.
