Russell Wilson will have a football job on Sundays this fall. But to begin the season, it will not be with an NFL team.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday afternoon Wilson has accepted an offer from CBS Sports to join the network’s Sunday pregame show.
Rapoport made clear that Wilson is not retiring. The quarterback told The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy in May that he received a contract offer from the New York Jets.
But at least to begin the 2026 NFL campaign, Wilson will not be playing football.
“Pro Bowl QB Russell Wilson, who has an offer to be a backup QB, has elected to accept an offer to join CBS Sports team for their Sunday pregame show and more,” wrote Rapoport.
“Wilson may not be retiring, but at least a pause on his playing career.”
Wilson entering the television industry comes two years after he signed a 1-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 11 games, Wilson posted 16 touchdowns versus five interceptions while averaging 7.4 yards per attempt for Pittsburgh. He led the Steelers to a 6-5 record and AFC wild card berth.
Former Steelers QB Russell Wilson Joining Media Industry: Report
The 10-time Pro Bowl quarterback indicated to Dunleavy on May 5 he was deciding between the backup role for the Jets and the CBS Sports television gig. According to Rapoport, Wilson has chosen the latter opportunity.
To join CBS Sports, Wilson has turned down the chance to be Geno Smith’s backup. That would have come with significant irony for Wilson.
With the Seattle Seahawks from 2019-21, Smith served as Wilson’s backup in Seattle. Then when the Seahawks dealt Wilson to the Denver Broncos in a massive blockbuster deal before the 2022 NFL Draft, Smith replaced Wilson in the Seattle starting lineup.
The expectations couldn’t have been any different for the two quarterbacks entering 2022. In Week 1 of that campaign, though, Smith defeated Wilson and the Broncos. Smith then led Seattle to a surprising playoff appearance while Wilson flopped in Denver.
Thanks to two disappointing Broncos season, the Steelers were able to sign Wilson for league minimum in 2024. The Steelers added Justin Fields the same offseason.
In July 2024, a Wilson calf injury forced the Steelers to start Fields to begin the 2024 season. Despite a 4-2 start, Mike Tomlin made the change back to Wilson, though, once he was healthy.
Wilson won six of his first seven Steelers starts. But including the postseason, he ended his Pittsburgh tenure on a five-game losing streak.
Will Wilson Retire From NFL?
With Wilson joining CBS Sports, the natural question becomes whether NFL fans have seen the last of the quarterback in the league.
Wilson started three games for the New York Giants last season. All of them were losses. The Giants replaced Wilson with first-round rookie Jaxson Dart entering Week 4.
After that, Wilson made three relief appearances, but he didn’t start another game. He is now joining CBS Sports having lost his last eight NFL starts.
If Wilson doesn’t play another down in the league, he will end his career with a 121-80-1 record. In addition to 10 Pro Bowls, he made second-team All-Pro in 2019, captured two NFC championships and a Super Bowl victory.
But his legacy took a significant hit over the past four years. Outside of six great weeks with the Steelers, Wilson played a lot of bad football.
With CBS, Wilson will replace another former quarterback from the same era, Matt Ryan. This offseason, Ryan rejoined the Atlanta Falcons as an executive after two years on the network’s pre-game show.
Before his pre-game show debut in 2024, Ryan also spent a year as a CBS Sports color commentator.
Ex-Steelers’ Russell Wilson Makes NFL Career Decision for 2026 Season: Report