Quarterback Russell Wilson has joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, potentially with a point to prove after an early exit from the Denver Broncos.

Let’s face it: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson’s tenure with the Denver Broncos didn’t go well.

Upon his arrival in Denver, the now 35-year-old underwent an almost immediate fall from grace. That started with his first game, which ironically was a loss to his former team, the Seattle Seahawks.

However, that season-opening loss was just one of many that Wilson and the Broncos would endure over the next two seasons, ultimately leading him to where he is now: a Steeler. But with all of that in mind, we ask this question: is Wilson’s “decline” overblown?

Jan 7, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson (3) warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The Broncos went 4-11 in Wilson’s first season. It was a nightmarish campaign that resulted in the firing of coach Nathaniel Hackett and frequent mocking of Wilson. He completed just 60.5 percent of his passes for 3,524 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, making it the worst year of his career.

Though we cannot decipher what was happening in Wilson’s head then, it’s easy to imagine the poor season was exhausting. Then you factor in the death of his friend and mental-conditioning coach Trevor Moawad one year prior, and it’s easy to make assumptions about why Wilson looked far from the quarterback who put together a Hall-of-Fame-worthy body of work in Seattle.

While all of his struggles during the two years in Denver were spotlighted, seldom mentioned is the leap in production he had in his second and final season, where, despite playing a coach in Sean Payton who made it seem like he didn’t want him to begin with, Wilson looked improved from the year before.

Wilson threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, completing 66.4 percent of his passes despite a seemingly bumpy relationship with his coach.

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No, Wilson still didn’t look like the same quarterback who had the league’s best passer rating back in 2015. But his performance last season was far from what you’d expect of a signal-caller who was eventually benched.

There’s no debating that he has declined from the star quarterback he was in Seattle, but more context is required when fans suggest he is “washed up.” Luckily for both sides of the ‘is Russ washed’ conversation, his one-year deal with the Steelers will potentially provide an answer by the end of this upcoming season.