Today, Russell Wilson looks nothing like the quarterback who once starred for the Seattle Seahawks. There was a time when he and Peyton Manning were the only NFL playmakers to have recorded 30+ passing TDs and a 100.0+ passer rating in three consecutive seasons. But after he moved to Denver in 2022, Wilson became a shadow of himself, jeopardizing his legacy even.
Advertisement
The 36-year-old quarterback delivered two of the worst seasons of his career in the Mile High City, leading to his release in March 2024. He then had a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He started strong but struggled with inconsistency, which ultimately led to his departure after the 2024 season.
Now, as the 2025 season approaches, Wilson has signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants, hoping to revitalize his career. Amid these challenges in his professional journey, discussions about Wilson’s legacy have intensified. Many wonder how his post-Seattle era would affect his Hall of Fame prospects. Former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, though, isn’t among the doubters.
On an episode of Nightcap, Johnson expressed confidence in Wilson’s eventual induction into Canton, emphasizing that his past achievements cannot be undone.
“He’s making it regardless. I mean, what he’s done in the past, you can’t undo that,” said Ocho. His co-host, Shannon Sharpe, offered a more measured perspective.
While acknowledging Wilson’s impressive career statistics, Sharpe expressed skepticism about his first-ballot induction chances. He remarked, “I don’t think Russ is a first ballot. That’s reserved for [someone like] Aaron Rodgers and for [Patrick] Mahomes, when [they] retire.”
Sharpe added that Wilson has over 300 touchdowns and is approaching 50,000 passing yards, while emphasizing that these figures might not suffice for immediate recognition. Eli Manning had similar stats — along with one extra Super Bowl — but he wasn’t inducted in his first year of eligibility either.
However, what’s made Russ stand out from his peers has always been his running game and how accurate he was with it. For instance, no one apart from Wilson has recorded 40,000+ passing yards and 5,000+ rushing yards in their career.
But that said, one also cannot ignore his recent struggles, as they have cast shadows over his once-certain path to Canton. So, as Unc aptly summarized, “It’s gonna be very, very interesting to see.”
This further makes the 2025 NFL season all the more crucial for Wilson. All eyes will be on his performance with the Giants.
A resurgence could not only redefine his career but also solidify his place among the league’s all-time greats. Conversely, continued challenges might further complicate his Hall of Fame aspirations.
