Russell Wilson Reveals His Mindset With The Steelers

According to BetMGM, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has +15000 odds to win NFL MVP and +1200 odds to win Comeback Player of the Year at DraftKings. The Steelers themselves have consensus +5500 odds to win the Super Bowl, +2450 odds to win the AFC, and +725 odds to win the AFC North. Their projected win total ranges between 7.5 and 8.5, depending on the sportsbook, and they are listed at +185 to make the playoffs and -226 to miss the playoffs.

Wilson, now 35, believes his move to Pennsylvania has revitalized his career. "Man, I feel the fountain of youth," Wilson said Tuesday, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. "I feel revived in every way—mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I feel confident. I think at some point you have to know who you are as a player, as a man, as a competitor. As somebody who's been fortunate to be able to play this game, I don't doubt it. I trust it. I felt really good last year playing. I felt really confident in the midst of everything. And so I think right now I have all that confidence times 10."

Wilson's career seemed to stall after his 2022 trade from Seattle to Denver. Despite showing signs of improvement last year with 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, Denver's offense struggled with consistency, leading to Wilson's release and a significant salary-cap hit for the Broncos.

Now, Wilson has a chance to turn things around in Pittsburgh, having signed a one-year deal. He's been the standout in Steelers offseason workouts, with no indication that Justin Fields might overtake him as the starter before Week 1. Although he hasn't been officially named the starter, new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith acknowledged that "Russ is in the pole position."

"It's a competition," Smith told Pryor. "I'm sure things will heat up, but both those guys knew that, however they were acquired, and they got here and I think it's been pretty transparent."

Reports from Pittsburgh suggest that Wilson looks more like his old self from his Seattle days rather than the player seen in Denver. However, as always, early optimism can fade as the season progresses.

Wilson's tenure with the Broncos was rocky, culminating in his release despite still being owed $85 million. He finished the 2023 season on the bench, but managed to bounce back from a difficult 2022 season hampered by a shoulder injury to amass 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2023.

This season in Pittsburgh represents a crucial opportunity for Wilson to prove he can still be an everyday NFL starter.

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