“[Russell Wilson] Is Delusional”: Mark Schlereth Calls Out Steelers QB’s Toxic Positivity, Before Ripping Up His Career Ambitions

There was a time when Russell Wilson was one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, with nine Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl win. However, now he seems to be far from his prime and is statistically no longer making a significant impact on the field. This resulted in his exit from Denver after the 2023 season.

Now, Mr. Unlimited is ready for the 2024 battle, as he wished for two Super Bowl wins in the next five years. That sounds possible for quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy, or other top QBs. But per sportscaster and former NFL guard, Mark Schlereth, it’s quite challenging for Wilson given his current form.

Is Russell Wilson ignoring the real problem?

In a recent episode of The Stinkin Truth Podcast with Mark Schlereth, the host was joined by Mike Evans to discuss Russell Wilson’s current state as a quarterback, questioning his optimism and career ambitions. Evans argued that if Wilson relies on a strong running game to soften defenses, he might appear more effective at throwing deep balls. Schlereth, however, cautions that this approach could lead to inconsistent drives and a worn-out defense. He acknowledged Wilson’s athleticism but doubts the quarterback’s desire “to become a red zone quarterback.” Schlereth further suggested that Wilson might still envision ending his career like Drew Brees.

Evans questioned whether the past two challenging years might have altered Wilson’s perspective. To which, the sportscaster replied about Wilson, “I think when you’re delusional, you can point the finger at 8 million different places then say this is why this happened, this is why that toxic positivity and that surrounding yourself with people, that basically it’s not your fault man.”

He highlighted that Wilson’s “toxic positivity” mindset prevents him from recognizing the real reasons behind his struggles. Schlereth concluded that this outlook is a significant issue for the quarterback.

Is the veteran QB being delusional?

In the last week of February this year, Russell Wilson appeared on Brandon Marshall’s “I Am Athlete” podcast and expressed extreme confidence in his NFL future. He stated that he wants to win two Super Bowls in the next five years. While it’s natural for athletes to have self-belief, Wilson’s recent performance and his age suggests a need for more self-awareness. Over the past two seasons with the Broncos, Wilson has struggled significantly.

According to journalist Robert Zeglinski, in his first year with the Broncos, Wilson was one of the most inconsistent quarterbacks in the league. Then in his second year, the 35-year-old barely managed to pass for 3000 yards. As a result, the team finished with only eight wins. They further benched Wilson, and later released him from Denver. So is it all his fault?

There are some reports that suggest Wilson’s subpar performance was not related to him, instead the blame shifts to the game plan. In his last years with Seattle, the quarterback’s performance numbers were not concerning. However, after he was traded to Denver, these numbers declined — this indicates that the problem was more with Denver’s game plan than with Wilson himself.

In 2023, under coach Sean Payton, the Broncos used a lot of traditional drop back passes, resulting in less movement and more predictable throwing positions. But now under Steelers’ coach Arthur Smith, this approach would change. Smith’s system operates by using the quarterback’s mobility to create different throwing points with plays like boots and rollouts.

This strategy should help improve Wilson’s performance and bring those numbers back to normal. Additionally, keeping the ball with him for long could also affect his game. Therefore, a change in scheme and quick-decision making ability might help Wilson achieve what he desires.