Former Wisconsin Badgers QB Signs One-Year Free Agent Deal

Former Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson found his new NFL home after surviving a messy divorce with the Denver Broncos.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and former Super Bowl champion, plans to sign a team-friendly one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

However, the Broncos are still on the hook for $38 million of his salary in 2024.

Wilson is expected to compete with former first-round pick Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph for the Steelers starting job next season. The veteran Badgers signal-caller enjoyed a bounce-back season in 2023, throwing for 3,070 passing yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 66.4% of his passes in 15 games. 

Odds are that Wilson will provide an immediate upgrade for a 10-7 Steelers team that made the playoffs despite uneven quarterback play. His arrival should also allow Pickett some additional time to develop.

Former Wisconsin Badgers QB Russell Wilson Inks One-Year Deal 

Oct 1, 2011; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson (16) walks off the field following the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Camp Randall Stadium. Wisconsin defeated Nebraska 48-17. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson has carved out a successful NFL career since his standout senior season with the Wisconsin Badgers in 2011.

During his time with Wisconsin football, he was recognized as a third-team All-American by Yahoo! Sports and Phil Steele and received honorable mentions from SI.com. Wilson was a finalist for prestigious awards like the Manning Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

He also made his mark in the Big Ten, being named the Grese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year — and setting the Badgers gold standard.

Wilson’s tenure with the Wisconsin Badgers left a lasting legacy. He still holds records for career completion percentage (minimum 300 attempts) at .728 and career pass efficiency (minimum 300 attempts) at 191.8. Also, he ranks fifth all-time at Wisconsin with 33 career passing touchdowns and 12th with 3,175 career passing yards.

These achievements — and his impact impact on the Wisconsin football program cannot be understated. Watching Wilson parlay his success into a lucrative NFL career since getting drafted in round 4 has been a treat.

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read our work at BadgerNotes.com. For more Wisconsin Badgers Athletics and Big Ten content, follow us on Twitter & Facebook. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. For feedback, questions, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Publisher @DillonGraff at Dillon.T.Graff@gmail.com. 

Also, be sure to check out our shop, subscribe to our newsletter, and the BadgerNotes After Dark podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms. Because of your support, we have become one of the fastest-growing independent media outlets focused on giving a voice to the fans!