Quarterback Russell Wilson is preparing for a fresh beginning with Pittsburgh after facing challenges in the last two seasons with Denver.
In an interview with Okla Jones of Essence that was released on Wednesday, Wilson expressed his excitement about starting the next phase of his career with the Steelers, especially under the leadership of their head coach.
“Playing 13 years in the NFL has been a dream come true,” Wilson said, adding, “to have the opportunity to play for Mike Tomlin, to stand beside him and work towards achieving my goals with the Steelers organization, and what that represents for the NFL, is truly one of the greatest blessings in the world.”
Wilson, who became the second Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl when he and the Seahawks defeated the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, also mentioned that he feels his success has opened doors for current players who are excelling, like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and C.J. Stroud.
“For me to have the chance to go to back-to-back Super Bowls, and win one of them, I believe it created opportunities,” Wilson said. “Now you see players like Patrick Mahomes who won it; it’s currently just a few of us, but there will be more to come.
“What I’m pleased to see is young players being drafted early, and many teams now have Black quarterbacks on their rosters. … It’s happening across the league, and it demonstrates how the National Football League is evolving, changing, and breaking barriers.
One of the greatest blessings of my career so far is that I’ve had the privilege to pave the way for others, thanks to the support I received from others.”
Last year, Wilson threw for 3,070 yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 15 games for the Broncos. Tomlin has stated that Wilson is the top choice to be Pittsburgh’s starting QB over Justin Fields as the Steelers prepare to start their offseason program later this month.
