Russell Wilson is heading to TV. The 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback is finalizing a deal to join CBS Sports as an analyst on The NFL Today, replacing Matt Ryan in the pregame chair.
This is not officially a retirement. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network called it a “pause” on Wilson’s playing career. Wilson has not filed retirement paperwork. He remains technically eligible to play. But the practical reality is that Russell Wilson’s career as a starting quarterback is over.
The deal came together fast. The New York Jets reportedly offered Wilson a backup role behind Geno Smith. Wilson said no. He chose a CBS paycheck over a clipboard in a locker room. It is hard to blame him. He has made enough money in his career. He has been to a Super Bowl. He has won a championship. The grind of being a 37-year-old backup quarterback is not for everyone.
CBS is getting a real personality. Wilson has always been a polished public speaker. He understands the modern media landscape. He has experience handling pressure both on and off the field. He is articulate, engaging and exactly the kind of name CBS needed after Matt Ryan left for ESPN.
The cast he is joining is loaded. James Brown remains the anchor. Nate Burleson is one of the best in the business. Bill Cowher provides the head coaching perspective. Adding Wilson gives them a current voice on quarterback play, modern offensive schemes and locker room dynamics. CBS now has the strongest pregame lineup in football.
The CBS gig also gives Wilson a platform that is hard to replicate. The NFL Today reaches the largest pregame audience of any network on Sunday mornings. He will be in front of millions of fans every week. He can build his post-football brand from there in whatever direction he wants, whether that is coaching, business or even a possible return to playing one day.
His playing career deserves a real look. Wilson made 10 Pro Bowls, won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks and became one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks of his generation. He had a difficult ending with the Denver Broncos. He had a productive bounce-back season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had a quiet year with the Giants. The Hall of Fame case is more complicated than fans think. He has the resume of a Hall of Famer, but the second half of his career was uneven enough that there will be real debate when his name comes up in five years.
For now, he is a broadcaster. The Wilson era of starting quarterback is over, even if he has not officially closed the door.
CBS got a star. Wilson got an off-ramp. The Jets got rejected. The NFL keeps spinning.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
