Russell Wilson Wants To Deliver Steelers To Seventh Heaven

Russell Wilson has played in Pittsburgh only once in his 12-year NFL career. However, his lone trip to the Steel City left a memorable impression.

Wilson’s Seattle Seahawks beat the Steelers 28-26 in Week 2 of the 2019 season. The stadium was then called Heinz Field and now known as Acrisure Stadium.

Regardless of the name, Wilson came away impressed.

“Just the atmosphere, walking into the stadium, just the energy,” Wilson recalled. “I remember the towels, Renegade, the whole thing. I remember the game coming down to the fourth quarter.”

Wilson had a fine afternoon, completing 29 of 35 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The most memorable part of that game for the Steelers wasn’t a good one as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sustained a season-ending elbow injury.

Now the Steelers are hoping that Wilson can finally be the quarterback who truly sparks the offense, which has been lost since Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 seasons.

The Steelers have used three starting quarterbacks in the two seasons since Roethlisberger stepped away – Mitchell Trubisky, Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph.

Pickett is the most significant of the trio. The Steelers chose him in the first round of the 2022 draft after he starred at the University of Pittsburgh. Retired general manager Kevin Colbert was confident that Pickett would be a worthy successor to Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl winner and six-time Pro Bowl selection in his 18-year career.

However, Pickett’s record as a starter was 14-10 over two seasons. He threw just 13 touchdown passes in 25 games while also being intercepted 13 times.

The Pickett era ended last week when he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.