Seahawks: New Broncos QB Russell Wilson 'made it clear he wanted this change'
An era ended at the start of the new NFL year on Wednesday afternoon when the Seattle Seahawks' trade of one-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos became official.
Seattle's rebuild that included the team parting ways with All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner was initially greeted with class and understanding by those players and the club, but Wagner later took to Twitter to criticize the organization over the handling of his release.
In an official statement shared by John Boyle of the franchise's website, Seahawks chair Jody Allen seemingly sent a message to Seattle fans about why Wilson is no longer their QB1 as winter turns to spring.
"While Russell made it clear he wanted this change, he made Seattle proud and we are grateful for his decade of leadership on and off the field," Allen said. "We look forward to welcoming our new players and to everyone being fully engaged while working our hardest to win every single day. I trust our leadership to take us into the future, and know we all wish Russell the very best."
At his Broncos introductory press event, Wilson claimed his break-up with the Seahawks was "mutual" and hinted outsiders may eventually learn all that occurred following the 2021 season at some point down the road:
"Russell has been a tremendous player, leader, and member of our organization since the day we drafted him in the third round in 2012," Seahawks general manager John Schneider added. "His tireless work ethic has helped make him one of the most successful QBs in NFL history and we thank him for his many contributions on the field and in the community.
"When it became evident that Russell was interested in playing elsewhere, we used that opportunity to explore the market, allowing us to acquire three quality players, tremendous draft capital, and create salary cap flexibility. We have a clear vision about the direction of this team, and this is an exciting time for our organization."
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