Russell Wilson looking on.Russell Wilson (Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
Russell Wilson reportedly had another NFL team atop his wish list before he signed with the New York Giants on Tuesday.

Yesterday, news broke that the Giants signed Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million, days after signing former first overall pick Jameis Winston to a two-year deal. The Wilson contact can be worth up to $21 million, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Giants had been tied to Wilson and four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers for several weeks before the former put the pen to paper. But according to a report from Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Giants weren’t Wilson’s first choice.

Dulac reports that Russell Wilson hoped “to remain with the Steelers, right up till the end.” But by all accounts, the Steelers were never that serious about wanting to bring back the longtime Seattle Seahawk and former Denver Bronco.

Multiple reports have indicated that the Steelers are the heavy favorites to land Aaron Rodgers. The Wilson and Winston signings will take the Giants out of the sweepstakes, so the real question is how long Pittsburgh can wait for Rodgers’ decision before they consider other options.

One can only assume that the Wilson and Winston additions also take New York out of the running for a quarterback like Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders with the No. 3 pick.

Russell Wilson’s Stint With Steelers Ended In Disaster

Russell Wilson pointingRussell Wilson (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Wilson era got off to a promising start, with the Steelers winning six of his first seven starts. But the 10-time Pro Bowler and his offense cratered down the stretch, as Pittsburgh dropped its final four regular season games to squander the AFC North.

Pittsburgh was then humbled by the archrival Baltimore Ravens 28-14 in the Wild Card Round, extending their playoff win drought to nine years. With an ugly end to the season, the Steelers had an easy choice to move on from the 36-year-old.

Russell Wilson Accused Of Making Up Story About Beef With Steelers Offensive Coordinator To “Create A Market” For Himself

Russell Wilson pointingRussell Wilson (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Russell Wilson has been accused of leaking the story about a rift with the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator himself.

The Steelers went 6-1 in Wilson’s first seven games as a starter after he returned from a calf injury that caused him to miss the first six games of the year. But things took a downward turn near the end of the regular season as they lost all four games.

While they made it to the playoffs, they exited at the first opportunity.

It’s now unclear what the future holds for the veteran quarterback, who was on a one-year deal with Pittsburgh, but he has been in the news for a supposed falling out with OC Arthur Smith.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “multiple sources” claimed Russell Wilson was asked to stop calling his own audibles and stick to the coach’s game plan before the Steelers started losing.

However, NFL insider Aditi Kinkhabwala has suggested that the story is not true, branding it “patently false” and “completely inaccurate” while speaking on 93.7 The Fan this week.

Russell Wilson Accused Of Trying To “Assign Blame Elsewhere”

The CBS reporter suggested that Dulac did not speak to other sources who would have helped him paint a better picture. He also claimed that Wilson likely created the story to create a market for himself, as there currently isn’t one.

“He’s currently looking for another contract. In talking to coaches and general managers around the league, there’s just not a market for him.

“So when I read something like that, I read this as a desperate ploy to explain why the season ended the way that it did. To assign blame elsewhere, and to perhaps try to create a market here in Pittsburgh. And the truth is, it’s just not true.”

It does appear that the Steelers are ready to move on from Russell Wilson. Whether a market opens up for him remains to be seen.