Russell Wilson Denies Report That he Wanted Seahawks GM & HC Fired
Russell Wilson still can't buy himself some positive publicity. Just when Denver Broncos fans thought the lampooning of Wilson was in the rear-view, a new rumor from a collective of reporters at The Atheltic has brought him back into the public eye.
According to the report, before he was traded to Denver, Wilson tried to orchestrate a power play to have Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll fired. But wait, there's more.
Per the report, Wilson also wanted Schneider and Carroll replaced by Sean Payton, who'd just relinquished his job as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Examine the context:
Wilson and Carroll had clashed in recent years over the quarterback’s role in the offense and the overall direction of a team that had gradually declined after back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. Convinced that Carroll and Schneider were inhibiting his quest to win additional Super Bowls and individual awards, Wilson asked Seahawks ownership to fire both of them, according to league sources who spoke to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details. Wilson also had a preferred replacement in mind: Sean Payton, who had recently stepped down from the New Orleans Saints.
Wilson took to Twitter on Friday to rebut the report.
"I love Pete and he was a father figure to me and John believed in me and drafted me as well. I never wanted them fired. All any of us wanted was to win. l’ll always have respect for them and love for Seattle," Wilson tweeted.
And so the bitter aftershocks of the Wilson/Seattle divorce rage on. Wilson was traded to the Broncos in exchange for a pair of first and second-round draft picks (plus more), as well as three players.
Joining rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett in Denver, things did not go swimmingly for Wilson in Year 1 as a Bronco. Hackett indeed did his level best to #LetRussCook, but it paid no dividends to the Broncos.
The Athletic spoke with "more than 15" Broncos players on the subject of the 2022 campaign under the Hackett/Wilson yoke. Per the report, the perception among players was that Hackett went too far in allowing Wilson to co-author the offense, including allowing his personal throwing coach Jake Heaps "unprecedented" access to the Broncos' facility.
Some were granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive topics. Many of those interviewed described a team without direction: a first-time head coach who was too accommodating, an inexperienced coaching staff around him and a star quarterback who failed to live up to expectations after getting what he wanted.
Ouch.
Indeed, Wilson regressed to a level heretofore unseen in the NFL, while the Broncos finished with just five wins. In the wake of cultivating a "player-led" team, Hackett was fired with two games left to go, becoming one of just two coaches in the Super Bowl era to be fired during their first season.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks finished second in the NFC West at 9-8, made the playoffs, and Geno Smith became a Pro Bowler.
Double ouch.
The results of Wilson's first year in Denver might lend credence to the veracity of his purported machinations to exit Seattle. But we'll probably never know for sure exactly what led to the Seahawks ultimately deciding to jettison the winningest quarterback in franchise history.
The Seahawks get to twist the knife, for now, and not just because they made the playoffs. Courtesy of the Wilson trade and how the Broncos' 2022 campaign shook out, Seattle holds the No. 5 overall pick in the draft this year.
Trifecta ouch.
If there's one claim in The Athletic report that I believe at face value, it was the anonymous quote of a member of the Broncos' coaching staff.
“He had too much influence,” one coach said. “And it was mainly based on what Hackett allowed him to influence.”
Assuming for a moment that The Athletic report is true, in a way, Wilson got his wish. It may not have happened in Seattle, but Wilson was given full control and command of his offense, and he'll be coached by Payton in Denver moving forward. It brings to mind the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for because you might just get it."
First thing's first for Payton as he puts the finishing touches on his coaching staff: figure out how to reverse Wilson's regression and put him back on the Pro Bowl path.
Achieve that, and the ensuing tide will raise the Broncos out of the NFL doldrums and back into competitive relevancy. Everything else is just chatter.
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