“[Russell Wilson] Is Going to Need God to Revive His Career”: Mike Tomlin Expected to ‘Kill’ Steelers QB’s Career Per Friend

Russell Wilson finds himself at a crossroads. The former Super Bowl champion once hailed as a “Houdini” for his clutch performances like the 2015 playoff game against the Carolina Panthers where he spun away from pressure to fire a strike for a touchdown, now faces a daunting challenge: to resurrect his career in the city where 4× Super Bowl champion, Terry Bradshaw found his home – Pittsburgh.

Wilson’s journey from the rainy confines of Seattle to the Mile High City was supposed to be a fresh start, but it quickly devolved into a nightmare. After putting up an 11-19 record over two tumultuous seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he “never got comfortable,” posting his worst QBR seasons of 38.7 in 2022 and 50.7 in 2023, the 35-year-old gunslinger now turns to the Steel City, his last shot at reviving the magic that once made him a nine-time Pro Bowler.

But the road ahead is treacherous, as Emmanuel Acho, Wilson’s friend and former NFL linebacker, bluntly stated on SPEAK today: “I love that Russ is a man of Faith because he is going to need God to revive his career… But, Pittsburgh is where quarterbacks go to die.” A stark warning, echoing the graveyard of signal-callers whose careers have faded under the watchful eye of Mike Tomlin, the NFL’s longest-tenured active head coach with a 173-100-2 regular season record.

From Byron Leftwich to Mike Vick, Kenny Pickett to Mitch Trubisky, the list of quarterbacks whose dreams were shattered in the shadows of Heinz Field is a sobering one. As Acho rattled off name after name, the weight of history hung heavy, a specter looming over Wilson’s last-ditch effort.

Yet, in true “Mr. Unlimited” fashion, the ever-optimistic Wilson remains undeterred. “Man, I feel the fountain of youth,” he proclaimed via Brooke Pryor of ESPN, his words echoing with the same confidence that once made him a household name while racking up 43,653 passing yards and 334 touchdowns. “I feel revived in every way, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.”

It’s a bold statement from a man whose career seemed destined for the scrap heap just a season ago when he was unceremoniously benched by the Broncos after posting a dismal 11-19 record. But in Pittsburgh, Wilson has been handed a lifeline, a chance to prove that he’s still got the goods to lead a franchise back to glory on a team that made the playoffs in 2023 but lost in the wild-card round. Expectedly, Coach Tomlin will have to play a role in the rebirth of this Super Bowl hero.

Mike Tomlin’s quarterback conundrum: Will Russell Wilson be the exception to Pittsburgh’s QB curse?

This is a critical test for Tomlin, as he would be the longest-serving Steelers coach ever with an 181-110-2 overall record. Can he at last put to an end a perceived “QB curse” that has been following under his tenure or will Wilson only go into archives of failed experiments?

As far as track records are concerned, Tomlin has had mixed results. These include guiding Ben Roethlisberger to two Super Bowl wins, which solidified the legacy of the armed player as a professional starter opposite other signal callers who he did not do so well as shown by his 8-10 playoff record. Lastly, Acho asked pointedly, “Every single quarterback that Mike Tomlin has had start one game in their career—look at these names; and tell me which ones have gone on to resurrect their careers there? That’s all I’m saying.”

It’s a valid question, one that Tomlin and his new offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith, must answer resoundingly. Smith, fresh off stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans, is tasked with crafting an offensive scheme that can unlock Wilson’s true potential and his prowess with play-action passing.

“Russ is in the pole position,” Smith declared recently, leaving no doubt about Wilson’s status as the presumptive starter. A vote of confidence, to be sure, but one that carries immense pressure. After all, Wilson’s arrival in Pittsburgh wasn’t just another free agent signing – it was a calculated gamble, a $1.2 million bet on a quarterback whose once-stellar career had hit the skids after signing a massive $245 million contract with Denver.

As tight end, Pat Freiermuth noted back in April via Around the 412, “You can tell the drive and determination that [Wilson] has to win and come to Pittsburgh and win some playoff games for us.” This sentiment was shared by many in Steel City, a fan base starving for success after last tasting a playoff win during the 2016 season.

So, can Wilson defy the odds and become the exception to Pittsburgh’s QB curse? Can he rekindle the magic that made him a “Houdini” on the field and recapture his record-setting form like the 2016 game against Houston when he threw for 452 yards and 4 touchdowns? Only time will tell.