Russell Wilson drew free agent interest from at least one NFL team this spring, but he will not continue his playing career in 2026. The veteran quarterback is instead set to try his hand at broadcasting.
Wilson is finalizing an agreement with CBS to work as an analyst, as first reported by Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports. Wilson was linked one month ago to CBS, so today’s news comes as little surprise. It does, of course, also represent an indication his NFL career has come to an end.
In May, the Jets made an offer to the 37-year-old. No deal was reached, however, and no arrangements with other teams seemed imminent this spring. Wilson made clear his intention of continuing to play in 2026, and he expressed a desire to remain in New York after spending 2025 with the Giants. For at least one season, though, his attention will turn to a TV gig. Wilson will likely serve as Matt Ryan‘s replacement on CBS’ The NFL Today this fall.
Ryan had a short tenure in that capacity before choosing to take charge of the Falcons’ front office this offseason. That vacancy is now set to be filled by another quarterback with a decorated resume. Wilson has a Super Bowl championship to his name along with an appearance in another title game. The 10-time Pro Bowler enjoyed a highly successful run in Seattle which lasted from 2012-21; over that span, Wilson was widely viewed as being on a Hall of Fame track.
Things have taken a turn for the worse since that time. Wilson was dealt to the Broncos in a blockbuster trade, a swap which did not produce the desired result for Denver. After serving as QB1 during Nathaniel Hackett‘s disastrous campaign as head coach, Wilson clashed early and often with Sean Payton. His statistical output rebounded to an extent, but before the 2023 season ended it was clear the organization would be moving on. The Broncos proceeded with a release, allowing Wilson to take a low-cost deal with the Steelers.
Upon returning to the lineup following a calf injury, Wilson remained atop Pittsburgh’s depth chart. He led the team to a wild-card appearance, but team and player parted ways last spring. That resulted in the Giants lining up a deal as part of their QB changes. New York added Wilson and Jameis Winston along with the first-round selection of Jaxson Dart. Wilson opened the campaign as the Giants’ QB1, but he was benched after making three starts. Dart took over starting duties, while Winston is still in the fold as his backup.
A Wilson-Jets agreement would have given the team another experienced signal-caller to pair with Geno Smith, who was acquired via trade this spring. With no signing having taken place, though, a Jets backup competition is now set to take place. It will be interesting to see if injuries during training camp result in the Jets – or any other team – circling back to Wilson as an insurance option.
Failing that, attention will turn to how things play out on the analyst front. Wilson has played 222 combined regular and postseason games in the NFL, starting all but three of them. He has amassed over $315MM in career earnings, a figure which ranks fifth all time. Adding to either of those totals will not be possible provided Wilson spends the coming year with CBS, and doing so will increase the chances of him electing to hang up his cleats.
Mr. Mr. Mr unliiiiiiiimited
nose-dived off the age cliff last season. retirement-home levels of slow. surprised he was getting interest anyways.
but great career…. tip of the cap.
The smart move. That job might not be there after his career. He’s still relevant. Better to be in the booth then a back up and fall out of relevancy. Being in the booth and having your face out there can only help you for hall of fame vs sitting on a bench somewhere.
It’s not a huge surprise in my eyes or many others’, I think. To me, this was expected when the news broke of the Jets offering him a deal, and Wilson taking time to mull it over. The fact that he announced that he was considering broadcasting made it apparent that he may not have been 100% committed to moving to a new team and starting prep for a new season, and that’s the sort of thing that takes 100% commitment.
Great career, even with the late drop off. Wilson was easily one of the most elusive QBs of all time, and confounded a lot of defenses in his heyday. Probably the best Seattle quarterback of all time, all things considered (but I will yield to Seattle fans on that). Hats off to Russell.
Having been a Hawk fan my whole life since junior high. Season ticket holder many of those years he has been the greatest QB in Hawk history. Hawks have had good ones but didnt do what he did. Perfect time, pick. Perfect coach for him. He also was very involved with the city, team and state. His Seattle years should be enough for HOF.
Expect Russ to start his TV career on a low-level announce team. The one NFL opening that CBS has is further up the food chain and will be filled from within.
“Wilson will likely serve as Matt Ryan‘s replacement on CBS’ The NFL Today this fall”
Great reading comprehension skills there Chas.
Great career but too much drama. Look at Steelers, those choose to go with Aaron Rogers over Russ knowing both are shadows of their younger years. One could argue that Russ is prob playing at a higher level than Rogers at this point in their careers but the drama. Clearly his drama was worse than Rogers and that says a lot!
What lmao Theres not a lot of drama around Russ at all other than maybe hes a bit of a goofy guy. But whatever works for your head canon soap opera you got goin on
It’s not drama, people don’t care for him because he’s fake as hell but imRodgers is better in every way than Wilson is. Even at their advanced ages. Wilson fell off a cliff so hard, really in Denver. In Pittsburgh all he could do was throw 50/50 balls. Half the coaching staff wanted Justin Fields to keep starting
Surprised he didnt sign with the Jets. Maybe his heart isnt in to it anymore. Just not the same player since that 2021 injury with the Hawks.
There was no way he was signing with them I’ve always had the sense that behind the scenes he has a big ego
backing up Geno after Geno was the backup to him for 2-3 years would be a bad look to his legacy
This will go great until CBS realizes 1. Nobody likes this guy 2. There’s a reason he was a 3rd rd pick and was only successful in 1 system throughout his entire career and was objectively atrocious playing QB in any other system.
So because he was a 3rd round pick he will be a bad announcer or TV presence? Uh ok
No he will be a bad announcer because he is cringy af
Not sure how well you can read but I was directly questioning the “There’s a reason why he was a 3rd round pick” and how it relates to a CBS gig, not mike92psu’s overall opinion on the guy
And what do you consider the reason he was only a 3rd round pick? The real reason was his size and durability concerns.
Seattle took a chance, he overcame size and built a team and system for him. Yes..was very successful.
As I said when this was floated earlier, I think Wilson might have just the right kind of corny try hard energy to have a long career in television.
Or flop epically as not authentic at all
Not sure if the public will buy any of that. I won’t. Wilson was a bully in school and comes across as an entitled athlete with his entourage, second floor private office with the coaches/execs, private parking spot, and whatever other perks he demanded. Not seeing the Manning-esque genuine likeability.
School was a long time ago. Manning wasn’t a saint in his youth either. But also I described him as a corny try hard. I’m not comparing him to Manning. I wouldn’t compare most former players in the studio to Manning.
The real question is: do his Broncos, Steelers, and Giants tenures take him out of the running from the HoF? Or does he still make it on the back of his Seahawks tenure?
A- His media gig greases his HOF path.
Some marginal guys have gotten jackets by keeping their names out there and buddying up to the voting class along the way.
Interesting! Didn’t think about that.
Brady and Olsen are terrible. Add another one.
Ever since that SB where he decided to audible and didn’t run the play his OC called he went into business for himself with an ill advised play.
Since then his career went into the toilet. Hopefully he’s no annoying with CBS