Former Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson finds himself at a crossroads in his NFL career. Wilson is in the twilight years and might want to keep playing, but one option emerging is television.
The question is whether Wilson wants to continue or hang up his cleats and begin his post-playing life. In a May 6 article in which Wilson spoke to the New York Post about his visit with the New York Jets, the veteran revealed that he also has opportunities off the field to transition into a role in his post-playing career.
“It was great,” Wilson said about his visit with the Jets. “They offered me, and I’m trying to figure out what the next best thing is for me to do. I still know I can play ball at a high level, but also I have an opportunity to do TV (analysis), so we’ll see what happens.”
Despite visiting the Jets, Skip Bayless is urging the former Seahawks star to call it a career rather than serve as a backup on a terrible team.
“I know he’s hanging on, but do you want to be the backup for a tanking team?” Bayless said on the May 11 edition of “The Arena: Gridiron.” “Is that how you want to end it? Wait a minute, no, you’re Russell Wilson. You’re a Hall of Famer. You went to two Super Bowls, you won one, and a lot of people think you should have won the other one.”
Skip Bayless Urges Russell Wilson to Consider TV
Moreover, Bayless notes that Wilson’s body has taken its toll due to his running style during his time with the Seahawks. As a result, the former ESPN and FOX Sports media personality noted that it’s in Wilson’s best interest to move over to television and become an analyst.
“He was a running quarterback in Seattle to me because he could just gash you with his legs,“ Bayless added. “He took a lot of punishment over time, and I’m sure he’s still a little beat up from it. At some point, because you’re hot right now as a TV guy, and I’m not saying [Wilson] wouldn’t be hot a year from now or two years from now, but he’s hot.
“He does speak well, and he looks great, and he has good sort of charisma. They’re beating down his door to get him now to commit to television. It just seems like he’s going to have to sit down, and then you’re going to have to look in the mirror and say, ‘I can be OK without football.’ And that’s a hard thing to say, man. It’s hard.”
Mike Florio Cautions Ex-Seahawks Star Not to Pass on TV Gig
Although Wilson would like to show he can still play at a high level if given the chance next season, NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio is encouraging the 37-year-old to hang up his cleats and head to television, because who knows whether the networks will still be there.
“I just think, at the end of the day, you talk about being in New York, Joe Flacco is the only guy who was the highest-paid player in football at some point who gladly will hang around and take whatever job he can get at any spot on the depth chart,“ Florio said on the May 7 edition of “PFT Live.“
“I don’t think Russell Wilson is wired to accept that. And if there’s a seat at CBS, I don’t know why you wouldn’t take it, because that seat may not be there next year.”
Ex-Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Gets Strong Take on NFL Future