Broncos Legend Blasts Russell Wilson for How QB Handled Himself in Denver

He said the quarterback “isn’t a leader.”

The Russell Wilson era with the Denver Broncos is set to come to an unceremonious end after the franchise announced Tuesday that it plans to release the quarterback on March 13 when the new NFL league year starts. Naturally, plenty of fans and pundits in the NFL world had a lot to say, but one Broncos legend took the opportunity to kick the signal-caller while he was down. 

“Russell Wilson isn’t a leader,” former Broncos linebacker Karl Mecklenburg said on X (formerly Twitter). “The foolishness that went on in his first year at Denver with a private coach, his own office at the facility, and family at training camp when other players didn’t have those privileges, proved his self centeredness.”

Russell Wilson isn’t a leader. The foolishness that went on in his first year at Denver with a private coach, his own office at the facility, and family at training camp when other players didn’t have those privileges, proved his self centeredness. pic.twitter.com/AVKfiWjdF6

— Karl Mecklenburg CSP, NFL (@KarlMecklenburg) March 5, 2024

Mecklenburg played his entire 12-year NFL career in Denver where he was a five-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler. In his scathing post, Mecklenburg referred to the special treatment Wilson received in his first year with the team, which ultimately landed the quarterback in hot water because of his lack of production. 

In 2022, Wilson threw for just 3,524 yards and 16 touchdowns to 11 interceptions and the Broncos finished 5–12. He showed improvement under new coach Sean Payton in 2023, but it wasn’t enough in the eyes of upper management and definitely not enough for Mecklenburg.