The New York Giants have signed a Super Bowl-winning free agent quarterback to the 53-man roster. And despite the rumor mill exploding, it is not 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers.
The Giants assured their fans that they would “look under every rock” to find a new quarterback that the long-term solution this offseason. Now, after lots of looking, they have finally found another one, on Tuesday agreeing to sign Russell Wilson to a one-year deal, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. The contract is worth $10.5 million guaranteed and up to $21 million according to ESPN.
Wilson later confirmed the news, posting a photograph of MetLife Stadium to social media, tagging the Giants with the caption, “Been here before… can’t wait to do it again.”
Wilson, 36 years of age, was reportedly on the Giants’ radar as early as last offseason, before the former Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks signed with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fresh off a rollercoaster 2024 campaign with the Steelers, in which he went .500, 6-6 as a starter, including playoffs, Wilson gives New York another experienced veteran in a quarterback room that also includes former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston, who signed a two-year deal with New York last Friday. Wilson heads to the ‘City that never sleeps’ as the presumed starter, according to NFL Media.
Wilson struggled mightily down the stretch of the 2024 season in Pittsburgh, losing his final five starts and averaging under 200 passing yards per game. Things got so bad that he was close to being benched for Justin Fields. That may be the reason why the Giants chose to sign both Wilson and Winston this offseason.
Embed from Getty ImagesPrior to signing Wilson, the quarterback-starved Giants had also been linked to Rodgers, who was released by the New York Jets; and Matthew Stafford, who got a lofty pay raise from the Los Angeles Rams ahead of free agency. Multiple reports also connected them to Sam Darnold, who ended up leaving the Minnesota Vikings for a $100.5 million deal with the Seahawks.
Wilson is now on his third team in as many years after failing to secure a new contract with the Steelers. Once considered one of the NFL’s top dual threats as a perennial contender as a member of the Seahawks, he has somewhat fallen off a cliff, posting only serviceable numbers, nothing that knocks your socks off, since relocating to the Denver Broncos via trade in 2022. He initially helped expand the Steelers’ downfield passing attack with his signature moon ball, upon replacing fill-in Fields halfway through the 2024 campaign, but had difficulty maintaining the offensive output down the stretch. The 10-time Pro Bowler’s 350 career passing touchdowns rank as the 12th-most in NFL history.
The Giants have also shown interest in Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, the consensus top two quarterback prospects in April’s 2025 draft, with ESPN previously reporting the Giants have eyed a potential move up to the No. 1 pick. General Manager Joe Schoen, who is on the hot seat, did not rule out using both free agency and the draft to fill out the position during this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, calling quarterback moves the club’s No.1 priority.
