Denver Broncos Russell Wilson: Breaking News Broncos Release Quarterback Russell Wilson – What’s Next for the Superstar Athlete?

Denver Broncos Russell Wilson- Broncos Officially Release Quarterback Russell Wilson from Team.

The Denver Broncos have officially announced the end of the Russell Wilson era, which lasted only two seasons. The team informed the veteran quarterback that they will be releasing him after the start of the new league year on March 13. General manager George Paton and coach Sean Payton expressed their gratitude for Wilson’s contributions and dedication to the team and community in a joint statement.

They also emphasized their focus on building a strong team for the upcoming 2024 season and beyond, with plans to improve through the draft and free agency. The news was initially reported by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. In response, Wilson released a lengthy statement expressing his appreciation for the city of Denver and his excitement for what lies ahead. Notably, he did not mention the Broncos’ GM or coach, but instead shared a message of resilience, stating that tough times may come and go, but tough people endure.

Denver’s decision to part ways with their highly paid quarterback will result in a $39 million cost for the team. However, this move allows them to avoid a $37 million guaranteed payment for the 2025 season, which would have been triggered this month. Although the Broncos will incur a significant dead salary cap of $85 million over the next two years due to Wilson’s release, this will be the largest dead cap hit in NFL history.

Despite Wilson expressing his desire to continue his future in Denver during a recent interview on the I Am Athlete podcast, it was evident that his departure was imminent. With only two weeks remaining in the 2023 season and the Broncos still in playoff contention, Wilson was benched in favor of Jarrett Stidham. The primary reason behind this decision was purely financial. By keeping Wilson on the sidelines, the team ensured his safety from potential injuries and gained the financial flexibility to move on from him, thus avoiding the substantial payment guarantee for the ’25 season.

Until recently, there was uncertainty regarding Denver’s commitment to parting ways with Wilson. However, on Monday, the plan to remove Wilson from the team’s future and sever ties with a doomed partnership finally came to fruition.

Wilson was acquired by the Denver Broncos in a blockbuster trade from the Seattle Seahawks during the 2022 offseason. The trade involved five draft picks, including two first-rounders, and three players going to the Seahawks in exchange for the Super Bowl champion quarterback. He was then signed to a lucrative five-year, $242.6 million contract, solidifying his position as the face of the franchise under General Manager Paton and new head coach Nathaniel Hackett.

Unfortunately, the outcome was far from ideal. Wilson struggled in his first season in Denver, posting his worst performance as a professional player under Hackett, who was eventually fired after a disappointing 4-11 start. Despite the arrival of veteran Payton to stabilize the team, Wilson’s performance only saw slight improvement, leading to his eventual benching and departure from the team.

During his time with the Broncos, Wilson started in 30 games, resulting in an 11-19 record. He completed 63.3% of his passes for 6,594 yards, throwing 42 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. The Broncos’ offense struggled significantly with Wilson at quarterback, ranking 26th in points per game (18.9) and 27th in total yards per game (311.7) since 2022.

As Wilson prepares to leave, the Broncos will rely on Stidham, Ben DiNucci, and their combined five career starts at the quarterback position. Additionally, Denver holds the 12th overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, providing an opportunity to select a promising quarterback prospect.

Wilson, aged 35, is embarking on his thirteenth season in the NFL. Despite his struggles in Denver, the nine-time Pro Bowler maintains the second-highest passer rating in the Super Bowl era (100.0) and holds the distinction of being the sole player in NFL history to have amassed at least 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards.

Based on his recent statements, Wilson remains confident that he still has more to offer in his professional career. However, he has made it clear that he will not be continuing his journey in Denver.