This is not the way we pictured the Russell Wilson era ending in Denver. This morning ESPN reported that Broncos head coach Sean Payton is benching Wilson for the last two games of the season.
What we know now is that there’s no question who won the Russell Wilson trade, what we don’t know is what comes next for the guy that remains the greatest quarterback in franchise history. Wilson improved a ton this season compare to last, but his game is still a far cry from what it was a few years ago in Seattle. In the wake of the news most fans are dunking on Wilson, but some have saved their ire for Denver coach Sean Payton, who hasn’t exactly covered himself in glory throughout this whole process.
Here’s how Seahawks fans, Broncos fans and fans around the NFL are reacting to the news of Russ getting demoted.
Russell Wilson's toilets: 12
Russell Wilson's wins in Denver: 11 pic.twitter.com/8FPin8cclP
— Seahawks Today (@TodaySeahawks) December 27, 2023
In all seriousness, I respect the hell out of Russell Wilson.
I've never seen a player so unfairly criticized in all my years of watching football. And not ONCE has Russ ever taken it out on anyone else. He's never thrown anyone under the bus publicly, or trashed anyone. pic.twitter.com/WYPbs8R9Iw
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) December 27, 2023
So presuming Russell Wilson is cut, his deal will have cost the Broncos $124 million for two years, when he was already under contract for those years at the time of the trade for $51 million (a $73 million raise).
Add that to all the picks that went to Seattle and … Yikes.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 27, 2023
I am sad for Russell Wilson.
I know he got in his own way w/his ending in SEA & his beginning in Denver.
But I also know the Hawks don’t win a Super Bowl & nearly another without him.
Quarterback is the hardest position in sports & Russ’ last 22 months have showcased that pic.twitter.com/q3J3Tfrlcy
— Brock Huard (@BrockHuard) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson when asked why he isn’t starting this week pic.twitter.com/p2bO1uT4MW
— Justin (@Justin_14P) December 27, 2023
Sean Payton when he sees Russell Wilson running out to try to take first team reps in practicepic.twitter.com/9otB6sPebY
— JⓂ️🅰️ (@J_Nole22) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson will count $35.4 million in dead cap money in 2024 and $49.6 million in 2025. It was unquestionably one of the worst trades (and extensions) in NFL history.
— Gregg Rosenthal (@greggrosenthal) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson, the recovery water guy? pic.twitter.com/nIuIa1LScO
— lil Kenny & full-size Kenneth (@wrongopinionman) December 27, 2023
Pete Carroll would've never benched Russell Wilson to take heat off himself. Never. https://t.co/7JmakAlW0n
— Hustle Chillson (@HustleChillson) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson leaving Denver with his $160 million after two years of overthrowing Courtland Sutton
pic.twitter.com/E2Sid58b12— Patrick Plunkett (@pplunk19) December 27, 2023
we're gonna get a high-maintenance list of the only teams that Russell Wilson would consider signing with this offseason and it's gonna be such great fodder.
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) December 27, 2023
With Russell Wilson getting benched, the final nail is in the coffin. The verdict has been indisputably reached without a shadow of a doubt:
Seattle won the trade, and it's perhaps the most lopsided trade in NFL history.
— Kole Musgrove (@KoleMusgrove23) December 27, 2023
Sean Payton: "Russell, we're benching you"
Russell Wilson: pic.twitter.com/SJXqGMiF4x
— Barry (@BarryOnHere) December 27, 2023
Trade back Drew Lock for Russell Wilson and two first round picks
— Joel Smith (@joelsmith) December 27, 2023
Oh god Arthur Smith and Russell Wilson are gonna run the most heinous offense we’ve ever seen in Atlanta next year
— Justin (@Justin_14P) December 27, 2023
russell wilson had a fine year but becomes the easy fall guy for sean payton who doesn’t want to have to accept any responsibility for not turning the broncos around
and people will side with payton because wilson makes corny tiktoks lol pic.twitter.com/4kIhhMakja
— Sam Richmond (@samrichmondBR) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson next year pic.twitter.com/BlwIsfUJUR
— 🎅 (@RicardoIsBad) December 27, 2023
Pretty crazy to think that losing to a Bill Belichick team was the final straw for Russell Wilson
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) December 27, 2023
The unhinged hate and criticism that Russell Wilson receives off the field has always been so bizarre to me. It may not have worked out in Denver, but I hope he finds a landing spot to resurrect his career. Will always be a class act.
Best of luck @DangeRussWilson
— Evan Hill (@EvanHillHB) December 27, 2023
The utter disrespect for Russell Wilson is pretty sickening. He deserves better. I hope he gets it with another team.
— Mike Hill (@ItsMikeHill) December 27, 2023
RUSSELL WILSON IS GONE!!!
STIDHAM NATION HAS RISEN!!! pic.twitter.com/MzOuE7bxp3
— Michael 🇲🇽 (@RespectMyCos) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson cooking on the bench this Sunday pic.twitter.com/KsK3pqK687
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) December 27, 2023
The Patriots ended the Russell Wilson experience in Denver. pic.twitter.com/p4cHiMbIp3 https://t.co/SPUo3Ysgop
— Thomas Carrieri (@Thomas_Carrieri) December 27, 2023
Sean Payton informing Russell Wilson of his benching.pic.twitter.com/3j87PLLCFl
— Elisha Twerski (@ElishaTwerski) December 27, 2023
You can’t lose a must-win game at home against the worst team in the league and expect to start
Sean Payton is doing the right thing benching Russell Wilson, and this is likely the end of an era in Denver pic.twitter.com/Aw3egZK9Tx
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) December 27, 2023
Broncos Country, let’s ride
-Russell Wilson pic.twitter.com/po6s5zVH8C— At The Buzzer (@AtTheBuzzer1) December 27, 2023
Sean Payton and Russell Wilson in the Broncos facility today pic.twitter.com/vld2bkCSG3
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) December 27, 2023
reminder that an assistant athletic trainer has accrued more MVP votes in his career than russell wilson has https://t.co/sMxhNH5ZiR
— victoria zeller (@dirtbagqueer) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson is truly one of the more genuine people on planet earth. https://t.co/uYjqCZexYk
— 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 (@CameronParkerPO) December 27, 2023
It’s been a pretty rocky tenure on the field, but Russell Wilson the player and Russell Wilson the person are two different people. I respect the hell out of all he’s had to go through to get here and never let any of the bad side show. Put his all out there, thank you 3.
— Robby (@Robby_NFL) December 27, 2023
atlanta signs russell wilson and im pulling a skip bayless and throwing away all my falcons jerseys. i’ll film it too. https://t.co/IyZeEkZsda
— kelsey orr (@kelseytayorr) December 27, 2023
I say this as someone who was a Russell Wilson fan, you can only think he was playing great if you exclusively watched the box score , if you watched the games you never felt like you were watching a good qb.
— Quincy Carrier (@Kwen_C) December 27, 2023
Jarrett Stidham after taking the starting spot from Russell Wilson: pic.twitter.com/DnddICLWKA
— 𝙆𝙪𝙩𝙩𝙖𝘽𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖 (@dreamzz_kidd) December 27, 2023
The thing that surprises me about Russell Wilson is just how much schadenfreude everyone seems to be feeling about his struggles. Sure, he's a bit of a weirdo. He's also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He seems like a good person. Why delight in his fall?
— Aaron Schatz 🏈 (@ASchatzNFL) December 27, 2023
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award stopping the internet from making fun of Russell Wilson. https://t.co/DiqqEbcrDk pic.twitter.com/DnaDIiE9D4
— Noah🌧 (@Yordan4HOF) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson defenders when you tell them he doesn’t deserve a quarter Billion to be a game manager pic.twitter.com/jXp7KLTtEp
— Milk🌹🍹 (@DieRussDie) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson trying to make his case to start over Jarrett Stidham this week
pic.twitter.com/wohjGmpf7c— Playmaker Betting (@playmakerbet) December 27, 2023
Amazing how quickly this Russell Wilson thing has escalated.
True intentions revealed in a span of two days.
Russ’s run in Denver is over.
He will be waived.
The @broncos will eat a ton of money.
It will go down as the worst trade in franchise history.Unfortunate.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) December 27, 2023
Pete Carroll after the Broncos benched Russell Wilson pic.twitter.com/0EkGjzvMjF
— Al McGrath (@AlMcGrath_) December 27, 2023
I bet Russell Wilson’s house on Lake Washington still has yet to be sold
— Dirty Osprey (@Seahawk_NFL) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson should simply pay Jarrett Stidham $1 million to pretend to be incredibly sick on the morning of the game
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson doesn't care being benched, his money is FULLY GUARANTEED pic.twitter.com/kj6nOi2rjV
— JayMo (@crassiux) December 27, 2023
Wow, look how many people in Denver are protesting Russell Wilson getting benched 😳 pic.twitter.com/qiMVHYFsze
— 𝚘𝚑𝚒𝚘’𝚜 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗 🎄 (@OHsVeryOwn) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson isnt my QB anymore, my life is complete.
pic.twitter.com/TzVHms0rHO— Caden 🥀 (@IssaLoop) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson in 2023 :
3200 yards, 29 TDs, 8 Ints, 47% conversion rate on 3rd downs.
I can think of about 5 teams that may sign up for that. A coach that brings Russ in will likely trust and believe in him. Sean Payton never did.
Curious to see what's next for him.
— Cloud (@maestroxv_) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson and Brock Purdy downfall in 48 hours pic.twitter.com/G4Ph2DiqXZ
— Phil K.D. the Bills/Mets/Sabres/Cavs/Newcastle fan (@phil_so_silly) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson's performance on the field as a Bronco was shakey at best with high variability.
But I respect the hell out of the way he conducted himself. Carried himself with humility, never gave up, and always believed. Never spoke from anger or blamed anyone else.— Parody Sean Payton (@FauxBroncosHC) December 27, 2023
If only Russell Wilson had a good offensive line!! pic.twitter.com/mcU8patgfJ
— Michael 🇲🇽 (@RespectMyCos) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson leaving Denver after pocketing $150 million pic.twitter.com/pU3IWaNxMN
— NFL Memes (@NFLMemesDaily) December 27, 2023
RUSSELL WILSON HAS PLAYED HIS LAST GAME AS A BRONCO https://t.co/fcVM9a6DPM pic.twitter.com/HJYg80FuEi
— Referees are not people (@Jakeda510) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson showing up to the broncos facility after the season finishes pic.twitter.com/z7QEBsyhJd
— Saul Goodman (11-4) (@SoCalNiners) December 27, 2023
The Broncos fanbase is wild.
They hate on Russell Wilson something fierce yet are clamoring to pick up Justin Fields this off-season.
Nonsensical.
— Ryan Kosior (@RyanJKosior) December 27, 2023
My summary of the Russell Wilson trade for the broncos tbh. pic.twitter.com/CtsNFMn4Gy
— 🙊 go broncos tbh 🐐🙋♂️ (@GoBroncosTBH) December 27, 2023
Be honest: do you feel this team is trending in right direction with Sean Payton after moving on from Russell Wilson (likely scenario)?
Or do you feel like Payton has no plan and you also think Denver will never recover?
I’ll tell you now, I’ve never felt more confident…
— 𝘾𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧 (@CameronParkerPO) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson…? pic.twitter.com/pbtnX5qLho
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) December 27, 2023
The Russell Wilson experience pic.twitter.com/GATvFoQzCV
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) December 27, 2023
Russell Wilson is an incredible human being. Really sad it didn’t work out here. Broncos football back in QB hell
— Tbaum (@RyanTbaum) December 27, 2023
Please do not put in your mind Russell Wilson to Atlanta!! LET IT GO 😂😂
— A M B E Z Y (@bezy_bby) December 27, 2023
What do you think? Russell Wilson to the Patriots? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/lmqHO37kQX
— Just Cece 🏈 (@JustCeceSports) December 27, 2023
So…Sean Payton failed. Cause his main goal was what. Fix Russell Wilson. So he failed
— Freaking about Football (@FreakyPeezy) December 27, 2023
Y’all going to cry so hard when Russell Wilson dominates somewhere else next year
— Aadan (@JMurrayWrld) December 27, 2023
