Russell Wilson’s tenure with the New York Giants, which began as a redemption arc, has nosedived in just three weeks. After opening the season 0-3, capped by an ugly two-interception outing against the Chiefs, the 36-year-old quarterback has been benched in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart.
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This was Wilson’s third consecutive disappointing stint in three years, following the debacle with the Broncos and Steelers over the last two seasons. Evidently, the current version of Russ is a far cry from his peak years, when he was one of the NFL’s brightest stars.
Yet, the case for Canton remains strong for the veteran QB, thanks to his undeniable body of work: 46,135 passing yards, 350 touchdowns, just 111 interceptions, and nine Pro Bowl selections across 13 seasons.
From 2012 to 2020, Wilson compiled a remarkable 98–45–1 record as a starter, leading the Seahawks to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and delivering the franchise its first Lombardi Trophy in the 2014 season. He also led the league in touchdowns in 2017, threw 40 scores in 2020, and posted a career passer rating that’s consistently ranked among the NFL’s best.
Still, fans and analysts remain divided. Some argue that Wilson benefited from the Legion of Boom defense and Marshawn Lynch’s dominance. His supporters counter that the QB’s mastery of the zone-read option, his ability with his feet, and consistent playoff appearances made him indispensable to Seattle’s success.
And this recent and lackluster part of his career, which could very well be nearing its end, has intensified these debates. Memories of his prime have clearly been overshadowed. Amidst this chatter, Stephen A. Smith has added his own voice to the discussion by pulling Eli Manning into the conversation.
“Is Russell Wilson a Hall of Famer? Do you know what my answer to that would be, ladies and gentlemen? It all depends on Eli Manning,” Smith said.
The analyst then pointed to the Giants legend’s 117–117 career record and only seven winning seasons in 17 years. SAS added that Manning’s family name and two Super Bowl MVPs will eventually push him into Canton. “Eli Manning will eventually be in the Hall of Fame,” he said.
“Well, how [are] you gonna leave Russell Wilson out when the first nine years of his career, he always had a winning record? They were always in the playoffs. He went to back-to-back Super Bowls and won a Super Bowl championship. And his record as a starter in the league is 41 games over .500,” Smith argued.
By making cases for the two and noting their stats, Smith concluded, “You have to put Russell Wilson in the Hall of Fame if Eli Manning goes to the Hall of Fame. Period, case closed, end of discussion.”
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Eli Manning, who was up for Hall of Fame induction this year, fell short on his first attempt and will try again next year. While there is no guarantee he’ll get in on his second attempt, a player of his stature would inevitably be inducted.
So if Smith’s logic holds, it may also open the door for Wilson, a quarterback whose twilight years shouldn’t overshadow the dominance of his prime.
To be frank, it’s sad to see a player like Russ’ HoF induction being compared and dependent on someone else’s fortunes. Because, for all the disappointment now, Wilson was a generational talent for nearly a decade. And no amount of interceptions right now can erase that history.
