Russell Wilson is Back—Could This Be A Step Forward to a Gold Jacket?

By John Turney

Russell Wilson is back.

Since Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Russell three weeks ago made his first start of the season, he's been impressive -- delivering strong back-to-back performances, with a passer rating of 111.9 and a 2-0 record. Equally impressive is that his trademark deep throws -- or "moon balls," as Cris Collinsworth calls them -- . are back, as new teammates Pat Freiermuth and George Pickens can attest.

For a decade with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson was known for his efficiency (101.8 passer rating), success (a 104-53-1 in 158 starts), and ability to connect on deep passes (200 completions of 35 yards or more). But now that he looks like Russell Wilson 2.0, some fans are asking: Could he be back on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory?

Once that seemed not only possible, but probable. But then there was a rough stay in Denver, and Wilson's stock declined. But now? Well, now former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III is pushing Wilson for Canton again.

"Russell Wilson," he said on X (formerly Twitter), "is a Hall of Famer and has earned more respect than he’s been getting."

Griffin pointed to Wilson's performance in Denver, citing respectable numbers (26 TDs, 8 INTs, a 66.4 percent completion rate and a 98.0 passer rating in 2023) and arguing that criticism of Wilson's leadership and ability to play in the NFL was unfair. Furthermore, he pointed out that, while his 2022 season was subpar, his 2023 performance was not.

But that's one man's opinion.

Prior to 2023, a handful of Hall-of-Fame voters were asked on this site (Judge & Jury: Is Russell Wilson a Hall-of Famer Waiting to Happen? - Talk of Fame) if Wilson was Canton material.. As you might expect, their responses varied -- ranging from he has a "solid case to be strongly considered" ... to he's "a Hall-of-Very- Good type of player" ... to he "should eventually get in" but won't right away.

It's an intriguing debate.

Unlike many elite quarterbacks, Wilson isn’t a physical giant with a cannon arm. He thrived on skill, hustle, and sharp football instincts, with the emphasis on thrived.  While in Seattle, he made nine Pro Bowls, though he was never a first-team All-Pro or serious MVP candidate. But his numbers were excellent.

The question is: Are they special? And is he elite? Take a look.

In his 12-plus seasons, he’s thrown for 44,195 yards (19th all-time), 337 touchdowns (13th all-time) and 106 interceptions, with an interception percentage of 1.9 (seventh lowest) and a career passer rating of 100.1 -- the fourth-best ever. He also led the NFL in passer rating in 2014 and passing touchdowns in 2017. Plus, as a dual threat, his case is boosted by his 46,025 combined rushing and passing yards (14th all-time). 

For what it's worth, standing under six feet, he’s the all-time leading passer among quarterbacks 5-11 and under. Of course, that's if Drew Brees is not actually as tall as his listed height. But that's another discussion for another time!

But there's more. Consider his performances when the stakes were highest: In the playoffs, Wilson is 9-7, throwing for 3,786 yards, 25 touchdowns and a 95.3 passer rating in 16 playoff games -- Pro Bowl-caliber numbers achieved on the game’s biggest stage.

In his second NFL season, he led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl XLVIII blowout over the Denver Broncos and, one year later, was a single yard from back-to-back titles. But his interception on the Seahawks' final play of Super Bowl XLIX ended that conversation. Had then-coach Pete Carroll called for a Marshawn "Beast Mode" Lynch run, a comeback victory would've been assured. Instead, the Seahawks walked off the field as 28-24 losers.

We also need to consider "the eye test" -- namely, what did you think when you saw him play? His knack for fourth-quarter comebacks is undeniable. Wilson ranks 10th all-time with 39 of them, proof that his team rarely was out of a game -- a mark of an elite quarterback.

If Wilson retired today, his Hall-of-Fame case would not have changed much between now and September, 2023, the date of the "Judge and Jury" piece. All that happened was that Wilson had a solid season -- as Robert Griffin described. But to move the needle, more probably needs to be done. More numbers, more wins, more playoff success and more signature plays. 

A deep playoff run with the Steelers in the next few years and a late-career renaissance where he performs at a Pro Bowl level would strengthen his case. So stay tuned. He's just starting the new chapter of his career ... and so far, so good.