Sports

Russell Wilson Publicly Thanks Broncos, Who Still Owe Him A Boatload Of Money

#Russell Wilson
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Russell Wilson warms up before a Denver Broncos game.

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The Denver Broncos are officially parting ways with quarterback Russell Wilson. The two sides have experienced tension throughout Russ’s tenure, and now their short-lived experiment will come to an end.

Wilson was traded to the Broncos ahead of the 2022 campaign, giving Denver hopes of competing with Patrick Mahomes in the AFC West. That didn’t come to fruition.

The ride has been anything but smooth with Wilson at the helm.

The Broncos posted an 11-19 overall record with Russ under center, and he was eventually benched by the end of Year 2 in the Mile High City.

On-field struggles led to off-field issues as a number of teammates noted being annoyed by the passer’s cringeworthy antics this past season. Some of those feelings carried over onto the sidelines as Denver continued its downward spiral.

With the relationship between Wilson and the organization deteriorating, a split was almost inevitable.

While the signal caller expressed a desire to finish what he started in Denver, the news of a release likely doesn’t come as a surprise.

Wilson posted a classy statement online to show thanks for the opportunity, naming those who impacted him most.

 

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A post shared by Russell Wilson (@dangerusswilson)

The ultimate professional, no one is shocked to see Russ showing gratitude. Of course, it’s a lot easier to take the high road with those Denver checks set to keep cashing.

The Broncos still owe Russell Wilson millions.

Spotrac broke down the details of Wilson’s contract in February with the two sides destined for a breakup.

A few quick notes before we get deep into the weeds…

  • Wilson’s $39M 2024 compensation is already fully guaranteed
  • Wilson’s $22M option bonus for 2024 is due March 17th
  • Wilson’s $37M 2025 salary becomes fully guaranteed on March 17th
  • The deal contains $85M of dead cap ($46M bonus proration, $39M cash)

There are a number of ways the team could go about the release, which would offer different payment options. Wilson comes out the winner in each case, though, and the Broncos are the obvious loser.

Denver gave up a ton to get Wilson, including a pair of first-round NFL Draft picks. Now, they’re paying a second time for the failed project.