Russell Wilson’s mantra once sounded like a halftime battle cry—pure Seahawks 2014 energy. But in New York? The vibes feel more “hold my Gatorade” than Super Bowl-bound. Because here’s the reality: The Giants just bet $10.5M guaranteed on a 35-year-old QB the Steelers tossed aside like last season’s playbook. And NFL insider Mike Florio isn’t sugarcoating it.

Discussing the topic on the NBC show with Michael Holly, Florio expressed his frustration. He channeled his emotions by asking Holly, “I want to know why in the world the Giants either didn’t talk to the Steelers or ignored whatever the Steelers told them. Because they wanted nothing to do with Russell Wilson at the end of the day.” A valid question, indeed.

There was a report from Jerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Wilson wanted to stay, and Wilson said it himself. Now, you never know if a guy says something out loud whether or not he truly believes it. *Dulac reported he wanted to stay, the Steelers had no interest in him.” In Florio’s words, Wilson’s signing was like: As the Giants, rushed to the store for bread and milk. They ultimately grabbed the loaf of bread that the Steelers had returned. And there’s something wrong with this loaf of bread.

Let’s rewind. Wilson’s résumé sparkles—46,135 career pass yards, 350 TDs, a Super Bowl ring, and a 99.8 passer rating. But his 2024 stint with Pittsburgh? Mediocre. 11 games, 16 TDs, 5 INTs, and a benching for Mason Rudolph. Yet the Giants—fresh off a 3–14 disaster—handed him $21M like he’s still cooking up “Let’s Ride” magic.

A baffled Michael Holley quipped: “Desperation. I think that’s it. If you talk to the Giants, and you talk to the Steelers, and the Steelers say, ‘Okay, uh, we’re in different conferences, so I’m not saying this is, uh—we’re not divisional opponents. So trust me when I tell you, he’s not what we thought he was, and he’s probably 35% of what he used to be.’ You do with that? You don’t want to hear the truth because you are so desperate for something—for a quarterback.” That clearly presents the Giants’ situation.

So, was that a big mistake? Holley explained the situation in detail.

Steelers’ side-eye & the ghost of Chris Carter

Here’s the kicker: Pittsburgh wanted nothing to do with Wilson. They reportedly warned the Giants, but Big Blue didn’t care. Holley pressed on: “I want to know why in the world the Giants either didn’t talk to the Steelers or ignored whatever the Steelers told them—because they wanted nothing to do with Russell Wilson at the end of the day.” So now? The Giants’ QB room is looking thinner than a MetLife Stadium pretzel.

Jameis Winston, Tommy DeVito—and maybe the draft. Holley put it bluntly: “And now, this information is making you eliminate Russell Wilson as an option. And if you eliminate Russell Wilson, now you’re stuck with Jameis Winston, Tommy DeVito, and who else? I don’t know—maybe the draft? Or you’re looking at Kirk Cousins? You—you continue to look.”

Let’s not forget that this franchise invented clutch moments. They won the 1934 “Sneakers Game”, stunned the 18–0 Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, and hoisted four Lombardis. But 2024’s 3–14 implosion—fueled by an injury-riddled O-line and Daniel Jones’ struggles—has fans side-eyeing the “Century Red” throwbacks like they’re cursed jerseys. Florio took it even further, drawing from Chris Rock nostalgia:

“Last week, we stumbled into some Chris Rock nostalgia. There’s an Eddie Murphy routine that goes something like—Starving. You’re giving a starving man a cracker. The Giants are a starving man, and the Steelers have given him a cracker. Am I right?”

And then came the punchline: “Oh gosh—one of my favorite bits. ‘That’s the best cracker I’ve ever had.’ One of my favorite. Is that a Ritz? Was that a Ritz? This a—this is a Ritz cracker.”

So, what’s next? Wilson is either a redemption arc waiting to happen (“The only person I can change is the one in the mirror”) or a $21M Band-Aid on a bullet wound. With the draft looming, Big Blue could target Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter. But as Florio quips:

“The devil on my shoulder says this’ll be fun to watch.” For Giants fans? It’s a Dark Knight dilemma: “Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” Wilson’s move? Prove he’s still Batman—not just a guy in a cape.

Mic drop. Cue the foghorn. 🗽🏈