Key Takeaways
- Russell Wilson signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants this offseason after spending last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- The quarterback is expected to earn the starting job out of camp over Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston.
- Wilson explained in a recent interview why he believes The Big Apple is the perfect place for him to reinvent his career.
Russell Wilson with Brian Daboll (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The New York Giants’ QB room will have a much different look in 2025. They signed Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson in free agency while also drafting Ole Miss standout Jaxson Dart in April. Despite the plethora of options, it’s widely believed that Wilson, a seasoned veteran, will earn the QB1 job for Week 1.
It’s no secret that the last few years have been turbulent for the former Super Bowl champion. After an impressive stint with the Seattle Seahawks, where he emerged as one of the best signal-callers in the league, Russ signed a megadeal with the Denver Broncos after the Hawks traded him, but he failed to live up to expectations. He eventually left the Mile High City and inked a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he showed promise at times in 2024.
That has helped land him in The Big Apple, the city of bright lights. The Giants desperately need a QB to deliver as they eye a return to the playoffs, and Wilson appears to believe he’s the man for the job.
In a recent exclusive interview with Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated, the quarterback explained why he believes he’ll reinvent himself in New York:
"Honestly, I feel like I’m 25 years old all over again," Wilson said. "And I think part of that is just physically I feel great. Mentally, I feel amazing in terms of, it's possible. You know what I mean? And I think ultimately, a big part of it is the people you’re around, the players, the coaching staff, the mentality of the guys. And then being in the city. The energy of it is for people that like to be fast-paced, which is me."
Wilson is still very confident in his abilities to lead a team:
“I can still throw the ball a long ways, 65, 70 yards,” Wilson continued. “I can still move. And I think that I’m capable of a lot. It’s funny because to me, being in Denver my first year, I was hurt most of the time and battled through it. The second year I felt like myself again. Then going to Pittsburgh, obviously, unfortunately I got injured early in the season, [and it] didn’t end up the way we wanted it to. But it just rejuvenated everything. And then being here, it’s like, playing the stadium again, knowing that I’ve held the trophy there ...”
The veteran has been speaking with a former NYC icon in Carmelo Anthony, who is also backing Wilson to reignite himself with the G-Men:
"Me and Carmelo were talking about this," Wilson said. "He's like, 'Man, this is the perfect place for you to reestablish and have everybody realize who Russell Wilson really is, by not just how you play on the field, but what you do, the community, and different things that you’re able to impact.'
“And people, it doesn’t get any bigger than New York City.".
Wilson has been a nice addition to the Giants so far, offering veteran leadership and a strong voice in the locker room. But, it’s his play on the field that will talk the loudest. Last year in Pittsburgh, the 36-year-old played in 11 games, completing 63.7% of his passes for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns against five interceptions. He missed a portion of the campaign due to injury.
The pressure on Wilson’s shoulders to perform will be immense, but he’s embracing it. If he can form a dynamic partnership with this talented Giants WR corps led by Malik Nabers, good things could be coming for New York. Undrafted free agent Juice Wells also sat down with RG and discussed how he’s been learning from Russ after the team signed the wideout. The Giants drafted an absolute workhorse at running back in Cam Skattebo as well, who should prove to be a nice addition to the offense.
