The Russell Wilson era in the Mile High City is over, and more than one Denver Broncos legend has taken to social media or a microphone to air grievances over the quarterback's tenure. The latest comes in the form of Broncos Ring-of-Famer Karl Mecklenburg, one of the team's most feared and prolific defenders of all time.
"Russell Wilson isn’t a leader. The foolishness that went on in his first year at Denver with a private coach, his own office at the facility, and family at training camp when other players didn’t have those privileges, proved his self centeredness," Mecklenburg wrote on X.
Wilson's leadership has been questioned by other high-profile former Broncos, including Mark Schlereth. Wilson's first year in Denver is still clearly sticking in the craw of many people.
While Nathaniel Hackett kowtowed to Wilson's seemingly every whim, including the aforementioned office at Broncos HQ, the privilege of "co-authoring" the offense, and other perks, Sean Payton arrived in Denver and put the kybosh on it all. Wilson was rendered just another guy in the locker room, though the Broncos did hope and expect that he'd lead.
I'm not here to question Wilson's leadership, but his approach has been so castigated by former Broncos that it's fair to wonder how effective he was. I supposed the results of the Broncos' two years with Wilson may answer that question, as he won just 11 total games.
Hey, at least we'll always have that 2023 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, amirite?
Wilson was unfairly targeted by the media and turned into a national lampoon, but he made it easy for them to find material. From his "Broncos Country, let's ride" schtick to his knee-highs on the plane crossing the Atlantic to the United Kingdom, and other cringe-worthy remarks and posts, he was a bit of a cornball, and not everyone appreciated it.
But I don't doubt that Wilson gave the Broncos everything he had. Alas, whether due to the vagaries of Father Time or simply the realities of figuring out how to thrive outside of a Pete Carroll culture and system, Wilson's best efforts weren't enough to elevate the Broncos.
And Wilson's production certainly wasn't commensurate with the king's ransom the Broncos relinquished to acquire him from Seattle, nor the money he was being paid. It's the height of irony that Wilson will be released before he plays a single down of the five-year, $245 million contract extension the Broncos gave him in 2022.
Happy trails, Russ.
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