Steelers, QB Russell Wilson Predicted to Have 'New Start' in 2025
NFL insider Jay Glazer predicted the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Russell Wilson will not be back together for the 2025 NFL season.
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NFL insider Jay Glazer predicted the Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Russell Wilson will not be back together for the 2025 NFL season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to make any significant changes to their organization this offseason, which is something head coach Mike Tomlin nearly promised while speaking to reporters in his post-season press conference. But according to NFL insider Jay Glazer, that change is coming for the Steelers behind center with quarterback Russell Wilson.
Glazer projected on NBC Sportsâ Fantasy Football Happy Hour on Feb. 5 that Wilson will sign elsewhere in NFL free agency.
âI donât think thatâs gonna happen,â Glazer told NBCâs Matthew Berry and Connor Rogers of Wilson returning to the Steelers. âI think youâll see a new start for Russell somewhere.â
If not Wilson, then Justin Fields seemingly becomes the likely front runner to be Pittsburghâs starting quarterback in 2025. But Glazer didnât sound sure if Fields is going to return either.
âI donât know,â Glazer added. âI donât think they know who their starting quarterback is going to be yet.â
Both Wilson and Fields enter this offseason as unrestricted free agents. Steelers owner Art Rooney II said to the media on Jan. 27 that he would âpreferâ to have one of those two quarterbacks return.
Tomlin indicated to reporters on Jan. 14 that age will be a factor in who they will bring back. He also stressed quarterback mobility is an important aspect to him.
Fields is about 10 years younger than Wilson and offers a lot more play-making ability as a runner.
Jay Glazer Compliments Steelersâ Arthur Smith, Implies Russell Wilson Contributed to Collapse
There has been a lot of discussion in Pittsburgh this offseason about the relationship between Wilson and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly reported on Jan. 14 that there was friction between Wilson and Smith.
Glazer didnât address that specifically to Berry and Rogers. But unprompted, Glazer was highly complimentary of Smith.
âI think Arthur Smith did a hell of a job this year with both of those guys. He got a lot out of Justin. Got way more out of Russell than I thought,â argued Glazer.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazetteâs Gerry Dulac reported on Feb. 4 part of the friction between Smith and Wilson was over the quarterbackâs ability to change the play at the line of scrimmage. Dulac wrote that after Dec. 1, Smith wanted Wilson to stay with the offensive game plan and not change plays.
Glazer also didnât address that report. But he seemed to agree with CBS Sportsâ Aditi Kinkhabwala, who suggested on Feb. 5 that that was only half the truth.
Glazer argued Pittsburghâs problem at the end of the season was Wilson trying to do too much.
âI think the problem, the way I saw it, was, âHey, Russ, youâre going to play Steelers football. Weâre ok being a third-and-2 team.â Thatâs it. Thereâs no âLet Russ cook stuff anymore,â said Glazer.
âBut I think when they started having success, Russ said, âOh, this is me. I got this.â And itâs like, âNo, no, no. Get back to how we were doing it.â But thatâs Russell.
âI get it, you have to have a certain ego to play and be great at that position.â
The Steelers didnât score more than 17 points in any of their final five games, including the playoffs. It was the first time since 1969 Pittsburgh went five consecutive contests without eclipsing the 17-point mark.
Glazer Rules Out Wilson Playing for Raiders
With Smith set to return as offensive coordinator, itâs not surprising the Steelers could move on from Wilson. Both sides could see fresh starts in 2025, as Glazer casted doubt over Fields coming back too.
But of all the Wilson and Fields free agency topics Glazer discussed on Feb. 5, he seemed most confident that Wilson will not play for the Las Vegas Raiders.
âThat ainât gonna happen,â said Glazer.
Wilson has been linked to the Raiders since the team hired Pete Carroll as their head coach this offseason. Wilson played for Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks from 2012-21.
But Glazer wouldnât even allow Rogers to finish his question about Wilson potentially signing with the silver and black before stating itâs essentially not on the table.