ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Two years ago, Russell Wilson heatedly declared his intention to play a dozen years in Denver and double the trio of Lombardi Trophies in the Broncos’ lobby.
General manager George Payton was equally giddy, excited to send four first-round picks and three players to Seattle for a younger, stronger version of Peyton Manning, and excited to sign the Super Bowl-winning quarterback to that $242 million, six-year extension months later.
Acquiring Wilson has worked out the biggest error in calculations in franchise history. He won just 11 of his 30 starts and witnessed both coaching and quarterback turnover in Denver, which hasn’t made a playoff appearance since winning Super Bowl 50 on Feb. 7, 2016.
Wilson had his worst season under Nathaniel Hackett in 2022 and rebounded under Sean Payton in 2023, only to be benched by Jarrett Stidham for the final two games.
The Broncos informed Wilson on Monday that they will release him next week when the new league year begins.
“We thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community, while we wish him the best as he continues his career.” team published on his social media channels, adding, “We are excited to improve this offseason and will have the flexibility to get better through the draft and free agency.”
The divorce will be costly for the Broncos, however. They still owe Wilson his $39 million salary for 2024 minus whatever he would sign with another team for, which would likely be the veteran’s minimum salary of $1.21 million.
The Broncos will also incur a record $89 million in dead money over the next two seasons, hindering their roster building as they look to end an eight-year playoff drought that has featured six head coaches and 13 starting quarterbacks since Manning retired a month after the franchise’s third Super Bowl title.
Wilson thanked Broncos fans and teammates in social media posts and offered individual greetings to several of them, including left tackle Garrett Boles and receivers Courtland Sutton, Jerry Judy, Brandon Johnson and Tim Patrick.
“Kurt, I’ll never forget your one-handed catch in LA and your toe-tapping in Buffalo. Boles, you always hug me, win or lose. Brandon Johnson, your relentless work ethic. Jeu you catch and head that ball high in KC!” Wilson wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Wilson also praised Patrick and running back Javonte Williams for their attitude during the tough rehabs and thanked the locker room staff and other staff.
“Tough times don’t last, but tough people do,” Wilson concluded. “God protect me. I’m excited for what’s next.”
He signed himself, “#3”
Wilson enjoyed a bounce-back year last season, throwing for 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions in 15 games.
But that wasn’t good enough, and Payton went with Stidham for the final two games. Stidham went 1-1 and the Broncos finished 8-9, their seventh straight losing season and eighth straight out of the playoffs.
While he said Wilson’s return is a possibility, Payton hinted at an impending split at the NFL scouting combine last week when he talked about Denver’s long streak of average quarterbacks and suggested it’s his job to make sure the “next one” is the right QB to lead the Broncos back into contention.
Wilson, who went silent on social media at Peyton’s request a year ago, recently resumed sharing videos of his workouts, and over the weekend he removed all references to the Broncos from his X profile.
Wilson was acquired in 2022 by the Seattle Seahawks, where he won a Super Bowl title after the 2013 season with a victory over the Broncos, for a collection of draft picks (two first-rounders and two second-rounders) and players (Drew Locke, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris).
He signed a nearly quarter-billion dollar extension before playing one game in Denver and then went 4-11 in his first season under Hackett, who was fired after 15 games.
Peyton had Wilson bring back his social media presence a year ago, and a focused and healthy Wilson showed up to training camp 20 pounds lighter.
He went 7-8 before losing his starting job. Wilson claims the Broncos threatened to bench him for the final nine games if he didn’t waive the $37 million injury guarantee in his contract.
He refused to adjust his contract and started seven more games before being benched in what Payton insisted was a football move, not a financial one.
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