Russell Wilson discusses embracing opportunity with Giants

Throughout the spring, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen have insisted that they want to start veteran quarterback Russell Wilson over rookie Jaxson Dart, backup Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito through at least the majority of the 2025 season. 

During a recent appearance on the "7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony" podcast, Wilson discussed embracing being with a Giants team that's coming off back-to-back losing campaigns. 

"The opportunity here is so great," Wilson explained, as shared by Bobby Kownack of the NFL's website. "I don't mind the lights. I don't mind that part of it. I think the other part of it for me, most importantly of it all that, is I've been here before. When you walk into a stadium, into a locker room and you know, like my locker is the same locker I had when I won the Super Bowl. So, for me, when I see that, when I walk into the stadium, I'm like, I've been here before. Not just been here but, like, we did this before. So, I fundamentally believe it's possible again in terms of being successful again and being at the highest level. I think we got the right guys."

Wilson famously earned his lone Super Bowl ring and nine of 10 career Pro Bowl nods while featuring for the Seattle Seahawks from 2012-21. However, Seattle traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos in March 2022 after he reportedly tried to get then-head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider fired. 

Wilson's two-year stint with the Broncos was mostly a flop, and he allegedly did not have a good working relationship with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the 2024 Steelers ended the season with a five-game losing streak when the 36-year-old was Pittsburgh's QB1.

With the Giants, it's expected that Daboll will look to take advantage of Wilson's ability to throw accurate deep passes to targets such as second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers. Per ESPN stats, Nabers finished his rookie season ranked fifth in the league with 109 receptions and seventh with 1,204 receiving yards. Over 15 games, he tallied seven touchdown catches. 

"Malik Nabers, man, dude's a superstar," Wilson added. "I was watching the film trying to make decisions, trying to get a clear understanding of who the players are, this and that. Obviously, you see the highlights and everything else, but when you watch every single catch and every single rep and every play, you get to see the kind of player he is. He's dynamic. He touches the football, he gone."

Some believe Wilson will essentially have a four-game audition to prove his worth to the Giants before the club could turn to Dart as soon as their Week 5 matchup at the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 5. Wilson has thus far impressed teammates during springtime workouts, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to turn the clock back while facing live defenses in meaningful contests.