Let’s rewind to when the Steelers were actually rolling. Week 13 against the Bengals—Russell Wilson was on fire. Dude torched them for 414 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Steelers to a wild 44-38 win. The team loved it. Mike Tomlin? Loved it. Steelers fans? Oh, they were eating it up. But their offensive coordinator? Yeah… not so much.

Arthur Smith actually wanted Wilson to avoid changing plays at the line of scrimmage and stick to the script of running the football. And Wilson and the team did the same during their next matchup with Cincy. BUT! They just managed 3.2 yards per carry while constantly keeping the ball on the ground for the first down. And Wilson? The QB got a reality check, finishing the game with just 141 yards and a TD. And now, the former All-Pro WR wants the head coach to fire Smith before the next season.

Oh yeah, that’s right. On Thursday, Brandon Marshall went straight-up and said that he’s not a fan of the Steelers’ OC, Arthur Smith. “I would like to see Russell Wilson back,” Marshall said on I Am Athlete. “It makes sense. It fits. But not with Arthur Smith, not with the offensive coordinator. That is the problem. Make the tough decision, Coach Tomlin. Your problem is not your quarterback, your problem is your offensive coordinator.”

Let’s call it what it is—see, Smith’s run-first mentality is kinda the main issue, according to Marshall. Last month, he blasted Smith for using three tight ends that basically restricted Wilson from his full potential. The OC prioritized blocking and short-yardage plays over spreading the field for passing. This likely limited Wilson from throwing deep throws and forced the Pittsburgh team into a more predictable, run-first game.

The result? Oh, y’all probably know about that. But Marshall wanted Wilson to flip the script and do what he does best. “This is what I would say. I would’ve love to see Russell Wilson go rogue. When he goes up-tempo, when he calls the game, that dude’s stats are crazy,” Marshall said. “And don’t have me look them up because I already got ’em. I’m loaded. That’s how l’d hold him accountable. We ain’t got time to play with these people. Legacy is on the line, careers are on the line. This dude got you in three tight end packages. I want to see Russ throw.” 

Guess the QB didn’t get a chance to throw. Besides, Wilson was sacked 14 times in the last four regular season games. But let’s not sugarcoat it. I mean, just because the QB wasn’t unleashed to his full potential doesn’t mean that’s the only reason they lost. Take the wild-card game, for instance, Wilson threw for 270 yards and racked up 2 touchdowns, but still, the Steelers lost the game, right?

Now, we just have to see if Mike Tomlin’s gonna move on from his OC. But one thing’s clear—Russell Wilson’s future with the Steel City is almost over.

It’s gonna be shocking if Russell Wilson returns to the Steel City

The NFL free agency is just three weeks away and the Steelers’ QB position is still unclear. When they’re knocked out in the wild card round, it was pretty much certain that Justin Fields is gonna be their QB1. Fast forward to now and the buzz is, the team’s eyeing a fresh face for the 2025 season. Starter or backup—no clue. And Wilson? His future is straight-up dangling on the edge right now.

However, ESPN’s NFL reporter Kimberly Martin is pretty certain about Wilson’s future in Steel City. On Thursday, while appearing on ESPN’s Get Up on, she stated that she “would be very shocked” if Wilson is back with the Pittsburgh team for the next season. “I think we saw the full scope of what Russell Wilson can offer you at this point. I’m not sure if the Steelers want to run that back. I think the Steelers need to be really clear about what direction they’re going in, and I don’t see [Wilson] as part of that plan. So I would be shocked.”

See, ever since their season wrap-up, Wilson never left a chance to show his interest to play one more season for the Steelers. He even declared on the Pat McAfee Show how much he enjoyed Pittsburgh and wanted to be back. “Love my teammates! Best days are ahead,” he wrote on social media after the show.

However, Martin isn’t the only reporter suggesting that Wilson may not return to Pittsburgh. We’ve already seen plenty of statement. But his future is unclear. Now, either he can find a perfect home to end his career or we’re gonna see him in a mentor role for the next season. The odds are favoring the latter. Do let us know your views.