Brooke Pryor, ESPN Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH — Russell Wilson is set to become a free agent this offseason, but the veteran quarterback said he wants to remain with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“That’s the plan,” Wilson said Monday while cleaning out the team’s locker room. “I love it here and everything else and I think we have a great soccer team.
“Obviously it didn’t end the way we wanted it to and I think there’s a lot more work to do.”
But Wilson clarified that he has never met with the Steelers to specifically discuss his future.
Asked if the Steelers responded to his desire to return, Wilson said, “I think they knew I wanted to be here the whole time and want to play here, but it’s also a process.” Ta. “We haven’t had those meetings yet, so we’re going to have a meeting and go from there.”
Wilson, 36, signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Steelers a year ago after being released by the Denver Broncos. He was limited for much of training camp and missed the first six games of the season due to a lingering calf injury. He returned and led the Steelers to six wins in their first seven games, but Wilson and the Steelers faltered down the stretch, dropping their final five games.
After posting 28 points and 372 yards of offense in Wilson’s first seven starts, the Steelers averaged only 14 points and 263 yards in their last five losses. Wilson finished his 13th season in the NFL, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, five interceptions and 33 sacks.
Editor’s picks
2 Related
“I thought I played well,” Wilson said. “There are moments where I wish I had played a little bit better. To be honest, I think there were two plays that I wish had come back, and that was the play in Kansas City and the play against the Ravens. Other than that. Especially those two trials. We gave it our all and I felt like we didn’t play well enough as a team when we needed to and I hated missing the first six games. I really miss those games. It was a shame. But I love how the players are playing.”
Earlier this season, Wilson said in an interview with ESPN’s Hannah Storm that he hopes to play five to seven more years. Asked if he still had that goal, if he was going to prioritize contract length or if he was looking for the best deal, Wilson reaffirmed his desire to continue playing.
“My plan was to play as long as possible,” he said. “I’ve said that since I was a rookie. That’s always been my thought process. I feel great physically, mentally and emotionally.”
“If you want to play for 20-plus years, you have to love it and I love the process. I love the mentality and I love competing with my teammates so that was always the plan. So, I just trust the team.” Just trust that we’ll work through the process and have those conversations when the time comes. ”
Wilson wasn’t the only player who said Monday he wanted to remain a Steeler. Edge rusher TJ Watt also has one year left on his contract and is eligible for an extension this summer, but he has expressed a desire to remain with the organization that drafted him 30th overall in 2017.
“I want to be a Pittsburgh Steeler,” Watt said. “You guys know that. I don’t want to leave this place, I want to be part of the solution, especially when it comes to this problem. I’ve put in a lot here. I mean, I want to help Cam Heyward get to where we need to get to.
“I want to be part of the solution. I don’t want to leave this place. I love the people here. It’s not just the coaches, it’s the fan base, it’s the people, it’s the community and we It’s up to them to make it right, and I want to be part of the solution, and I have no intention of leaving here to go anywhere else. ”
Watt also expressed frustration with the lack of success in the playoffs recently and how the season has ended over the past five games.
“It’s tough,” Watt said. “We’re sitting here at the same time last year, we’ve been in this Scrum at the same time, we’re getting the same questions, we’re having the same answers. Obviously, I’m very impressed with the way things ended. It’s frustrating, but it’s not just about the last game, it’s the last month of football.
“It’s a collection of things, and it starts with myself, and I need to play better. We need to play better. The things that need to be fixed here are 1 There are a lot of things, but it starts from within myself, and it’s going to be a long offseason where I have to play better in the big moments and be patient.”
