Russell Wilson picks TV over continuing his playing career

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Russell Wilson is staying in New York. But he won't be playing for the Jets. Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, Wilson is " finalizing a deal " to become an analyst with CBS. Wilson will be joining The NFL Today , which currently features James Brown, Nate Burleson, and Bill Cowher. A seat opened when Matt Ryan left to become the Falcons' president of football. The Jets were considering Wilson as a veteran backup to Geno Smith, who once was Wilson's backup in Seattle. Wilson has said he had an offer from the Jets. It's rare for any quarterback who was once the highest-paid player in the league to happily accept the second spot on a depth chart. (Joe Flacco is the one of the most significant exceptions.) Wilson was the Giants' starter when he signed there in 2025, and he was the Steelers' starter when he signed there in 2024. His days as a starter are and were over. As to the biggest TV opportunities, those seats don't always pop open. With Ryan exiting, there was a current opportunity for Wilson. If he didn't take it now, it may not have been there in a year. Wilson, a third-round pick out of Wisconsin, started for the Seahawks from 2012 through 2021. He was traded to the Broncos in 2022. A Super Bowl winner and a 10-time Pro Bowler, Wilson was never a first-team All-Pro or a serious MVP candidate. At 16th on the all-time passing yardage list and 12th on the all-time passing touchdown list, he'll have a somewhat challenging case to get to Canton. That's where a great career in TV can make a difference. Yes, the debate will be about his playing career. And, yes, his case will get stronger if he becomes a successful and enduring presence in NFL broadcast universe.