The Denver Broncos get to enjoy the holidays with their families, while former starting quarterback Russell Wilson continues his playoff push.
Now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wilson is preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17. Before diving into the high-stakes matchup, Wilson stepped into the holiday spirit, playing Santa Claus by gifting his Steelers teammates some extravagant presents.
The total value of the gifts exceeded a staggering $140,000.
“Russell Wilson with a ridiculous holiday gift package to his entire offensive line!” Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz posted on X (formerly Twitter) on December 24. “Russ gifted his 14 O-Linemen with this: A $10,000 Airbnb gift card valid globally, a Louis Vuitton duffel bag in Steelers’ iconic black and gold, custom-made Steelers Good Man Brand shoes (Wilson’s own premium men’s clothing brand), and a bottle of his wife Ciara’s TenToOne Rum.”
Notably, Wilson is playing under a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Steelers. However, the Denver Broncos are still paying him $37 million this season due to his previous deal, which carried an $85 million dead cap hit after the Broncos released him ahead of his five-year, $245 million contract’s start date.
Russell Wilson’s Expensive Departure and Resurgent Season
Wilson’s time in Denver came to an abrupt and costly end after a disappointing tenure under head coach Sean Payton. The organization’s decision to part ways with Wilson set a new NFL record for dead money related to a single player in one league year.
“The $53 million for 2024, which includes Wilson’s fully guaranteed $39 million 2024 base salary from the five-year, $245 million contract extension he signed in August 2022, is an NFL record,” CBS Sports’ Joel Corry reported on December 4. “The other $32 million is a 2025 salary cap charge for the Broncos because of the post-June 1 designation.”
Despite the rocky exit, Wilson has flourished in Pittsburgh. Leading the Steelers to a 6-3 record since taking over as starter, he has positioned the team for a potential playoff run. With two games left in the regular season, Wilson’s strong performance has sparked talk of another lucrative contract.
“The one-year, $1.2 million deal Wilson signed with the Steelers (while still collecting $37.8 million from Denver) ranks as the biggest bargain in the league this season,” wrote Mike Sando of The Athletic on December 5. “Wilson’s passing production in six starts projects to 4,706 yards, 28 touchdowns, and nine interceptions over a 17-game schedule. While the final five games feature challenging defenses, the Steelers are virtually assured a playoff berth, giving Wilson a prime opportunity to secure a longer-term deal in Pittsburgh.”
Uncertain Future Looms for Wilson
Although Wilson has experienced a career resurgence, the Steelers are expected to explore other quarterback options in the offseason.
“Teams expected to be in the quarterback market this offseason include the Steelers, Jets, Giants, Raiders, Saints, Browns, and Titans,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on December 21. “As usual, there aren’t enough quarterbacks for everyone.”
This uncertainty leaves the door open for Wilson to return to the Steelers. The team’s only other quarterback, Justin Fields, will also be a free agent after the season. Wilson will likely seek more clarity about his future heading into the offseason.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have turned the page, handing the reins to rookie first-round pick Bo Nix. Nix’s promising play has allowed Denver to remain competitive despite the financial burden of Wilson’s hefty dead cap charge.
