New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll is reportedly mulling a reunion with his former quarterback.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson is scheduled to enter free agency in March. On Sunday, NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport reported that Wilson has remained close with the ex-Seattle Seahawks HC and is “a strong option” for Vegas.
“One of [Carroll’s] good friends is still Russell Wilson, the Steelers quarterback,” Rapoport said on “NFL GameDay.” “My understanding is Russell Wilson wanted to play for the Raiders last year, which did not happen. Look for that union, potentially, to be discussed.”
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe also recently tabbed the Raiders as a potential landing spot for Wilson, writing, “[He and Carroll] mended fences” since their divorce in Seattle.
In March 2022, the Seahawks dealt Wilson to the Denver Broncos for three players and five draft picks after his relationship with the club seemingly soured.
The Raiders desperately need an offensive signal-caller. This season, they started QBs Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder, who posted a collective 80.4 passer rating, below the league average.
Without a viable starting QB, the Raiders went 4-13 and missed the playoffs for a third straight season.
Could Wilson be the solution for Vegas? In his first 10 seasons with Carroll in Seattle, he made nine Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl.
However, he has looked like a declining player over the past three seasons. As Denver’s starting quarterback from 2022-23, he was 11-19 in the regular season.
In 11 regular-season starts with the Steelers this season, he went 6-5, completing 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,482 yards with 16 touchdown passes and five interceptions.
The Baltimore Ravens eliminated the Steelers in the AFC wild-card round. During the 28-14 loss, Wilson tossed two TDs but was sacked four times.
If the Raiders sign Wilson, they’d better have a backup plan. Las Vegas — which has the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft — should take a QB, perhaps Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
