For a second straight offseason, Russell Wilson has signed a one-year contract with a team seeking an experienced starter.
He expects to man that role with the Giants in 2025, regardless of what they do in April's draft where they hold the No. 3 overall pick.
"Yeah, I expect to be the starter and come in here and be ready to rock and roll every day," Wilson said via Zoom during his introductory news conference on Wednesday. "You've got to lead, I think this team is looking for someone to lead them in every way, in terms of the process, offseason, during the season, our habits and our thought process and how we create a great winning culture, and how do we continue to establish that, and to really build on all the things we do well, and the things we continue to need to do.
"And so I think the big part for me is just try to, it's my 14th year to be able to lead an amazing group of men that really have big hopes and goals and dreams and desires, and we all share the same goal. And so I think that's the best part of it is, I get to be around a lot of extremely talented guys."
It's clear Wilson relishes the idea of joining the Giants as an established veteran and leading voice in a locker room that could use some guidance on that side of the ball, especially under center. Time will tell whether his teammates take to him, but the always optimistic Wilson laid out his plans rather explicitly Wednesday, and didn't shy from the fact New York likely isn't finished remodeling the position group this offseason.
"Listen, I think that every NFL team nowadays has two or three quarterbacks, usually three nowadays, and so right now we have Tommy DeVito and Jameis (Winston) and myself, and we're just excited to get to work," Wilson said after one of my questions regarding New York potentially drafting a QB.
"The great thing about professional sports is the constant change, constant movement and everything else. If we draft a quarterback, we'll make sure that he does everything he can to be ready to go and be prepared with his mentality. But for me it's about the process of winning, I'm focused on winning, what I can do as the quarterback of the New York Giants to help us win, and to do everything that we can to lead.
"And I'm excited man, I've been gifted with so much in this game in terms of experiences and things I've gone through. All the great moments, some tough ones along the way, but also to be inside those white lines, that's my most favorite place to be. And so I'm excited to do that and to rock the New York Giants jersey."
Wilson's signing with the Giants took more time than usual. In fact, he was the second quarterback to join Big Blue (a nickname which is apparently part of his new addition to his litany of catchphrases) this offseason, following Winston's signing. Most everyone will point to another free-agent quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, when asked to identify the cause of the delay.
Wilson was viewed largely as a fallback plan for teams that didn't land Rodgers. But Wilson didn't take that personally when asked about it Wednesday.
"You know the thing about it is, first of all Aaron Rodgers is a tremendous football player. He's done some amazing things in this league, I've been fortunate to be able to do some great things too," Wilson said. "And really (all) I'm focused on is right now and what we can do here. That's been my focus since I've signed and everything else, and also along the way is finding a place that continues to believe in you.
"Coming here, obviously being in New York is an exciting place to play, it's a place that wants to win, a place that knows how to win, and has won before. For me it's bringing everything I know, all the experiences, all the touchdowns, all the wins, but also all the love and passion for the game to this locker room, and that's what I'm excited for, and it's going to be a special, special thing, and we've got to go work towards it and do it."
Wilson has spent some time playing in the Giants' home of MetLife Stadium, and even won a Super Bowl there as quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, who rolled over the high-powered Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. He said some of his "most fond memories of this game that I poured my heart and soul into every day happened right here in this stadium." He's hoping to create more with the Giants, especially now that New York has committed to having him for 2025.
That's all he's signed up for, though. Much like Pittsburgh was a year ago, Wilson is joining a team seeking some stability and predictability from the quarterback position. But unlike Pittsburgh, Wilson will also be playing to preserve his coach's job after Brian Daboll avoided getting fired in 2024.
They're all out to produce immediately, or else suffer the consequences of disappointment in a league that doesn't have much time for those who don't win. If Wilson proved anything over the last year, it's that he can acclimate to a new program and play well enough to attract offers. He'll hope to do the same with his third team in three years.
