“Russell Wilson Found His Russell Wilson”: Ryan Clark Hails Mike Tomlin for Empowering his QB Like a Supportive Spouse

Russell Wilson and Mike Tomlin are cooking up a storm in Pittsburgh. The two have been like a match made in heaven, the way the Steelers offense has performed this season. And Ryan Clark has an explanation why.

The chemistry between the HC and the QB has been insane to watch. Clark thinks it’s because “Russell Wilson has found his Russell Wilson.”

According to Clark, Wilson and Tomlin’s energies match perfectly. In addition, Tomlin is giving Wilson the respect he deserves.

“He thinks positively. So does Mike Tomlin…He (Tomlin) embraces who you (Wilson) are. He’s not asking you to change or behave in a different way…He’s asking you to become a part of this family…Mike T has punched all the right buttons,” Clark explained on the Pivot Podcast.

This is in stark contrast to how Wilson was treated in Denver by HC Sean Payton, added Clark. Payton did nothing to hide his disdain for Wilson, while Tomlin has been nothing but supportive of his quarterback ever since he landed in Pittsburgh. This has translated into the QB playing much better than he ever did in Denver.

Co-host Channing Crowder mirrored Clark’s opinion, and called Tomlin a “person that values human beings”.

“And I think that’s why Russ is thriving now, because now he’s with another person that enjoys people and has humanity to him. Never met Sean Payton. But the videos I’ve seen, I think he’s a commodity guy. Where Mike Tomlin and Pete Carroll are human guys,” Crowder added.

Wilson himself has called Tomlin “the world’s best” and while he never had anything impolite to say about Payton, the Broncos head coach understandably didn’t make his “all-time greats list”.

With five games left in the season, the Steelers (9-3) are the favorites to win the AFC North. If they pull it off, it’ll be their first division title since 2020. They’re desperate for a playoff run at this point and they just need Wilson and Tomlin to keep up the good work.