The New York Giants are betting big on Russell Wilson, and head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen have been clear: they want the veteran under center for most of the 2025 season. It’s a bold move for a team coming off back-to-back losing campaigns, but Wilson’s embracing the challenge. “The opportunity here is so great,” Wilson said on the “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony” podcast, as shared by Bobby Kownack of the NFL’s website. “I don’t mind the lights. I don’t mind that part of it. I think the other part of it for me, most importantly of all that, is I’ve been here before. When you walk into a stadium, into a locker room and you know, like my locker is the same locker I had when I won the Super Bowl. So, for me, when I see that, when I walk into the stadium, I’m like, I’ve been here before. Not just been here but, like, we did this before. So, I fundamentally believe it’s possible again in terms of being successful again and being at the highest level. I think we got the right guys.”
Wilson’s confidence is rooted in his past success. He famously won his only Super Bowl and earned nine of his 10 Pro Bowl nods with the Seattle Seahawks from 2012-21. But his journey since then has been rocky. After reportedly trying to oust then-head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider, Seattle traded him to the Denver Broncos in March 2022, where his two-year stint was largely a disappointment. His time with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 ended on a sour note, with a five-game losing streak as QB1, allegedly due to a poor working relationship with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Now, at 36, Wilson’s in New York, looking to turn back the clock.
The Giants are banking on Wilson’s ability to connect on deep passes, especially to second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers, who exploded onto the scene last year. Nabers finished his rookie season ranked fifth in the league with 109 receptions and seventh with 1,204 receiving yards, notching seven touchdown catches over 15 games. “Malik Nabers, man, dude’s a superstar,” Wilson said. “I was watching the film trying to make decisions, trying to get a clear understanding of who the players are, this and that. Obviously, you see the highlights and everything else, but when you watch every single catch and every single rep and every play, you get to see the kind of player he is. He’s dynamic. He touches the football, he gone.” It’s a partnership that could be electric, with Wilson’s arm and Nabers’ speed and hands potentially unlocking a new level for the Giants’ offense.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. Some believe Wilson’s got a four-game audition to prove his worth before the Giants might turn to rookie Jaxson Dart as early as their Week 5 matchup against the New Orleans Saints on October 5. Wilson’s impressed during spring workouts, but the real test comes when the pads are on and the defenses are live. For now, though, the Giants are all in on Wilson, hoping his experience and leadership can guide them back to relevance. It’s a high-stakes gamble, but with Nabers as a weapon and Wilson’s belief in the process, the potential is there. The question is, can Wilson deliver when it counts? The Giants are betting he can, and 2025 could be the year we find out. Stay tuned, because this story’s got all the makings of a comeback narrative, and Wilson’s ready to write the next chapter.
