Russell Wilson is still in the NFL, but his career has taken a big downturn and he’s now more of a struggling veteran/free‑agent story than a superstar one.

Quick Scoop

  • Russell Wilson’s play declined after his trade from the Seahawks to the Broncos, and later to the Giants, where he was benched and even dropped to third‑string in 2025.
  • He revealed he played through a Grade 2 hamstring tear with the Giants in 2025, which hurt his performance and sparked talk of a possible league investigation because it was never on the injury report.
  • As of early 2026, he’s expected to hit free agency, is open to being a backup, and insists he’s “not blinking” and wants to keep playing rather than retire.

From star to slump

Early in his career, Wilson was a Super Bowl–winning franchise QB and perennial Pro Bowler in Seattle, known for mobility and big‑play efficiency.

Things shifted after he left the Seahawks: his production dipped in Denver, criticisms about his leadership and “corny” persona grew online, and many fans started to say he’d “fallen off.”

The Giants chapter

  • Wilson signed a short‑term deal with the New York Giants, was named the starter, and then struggled badly during an 0–3 start with one of the lowest passer ratings of his career.
  • He was benched for rookie Jaxson Dart, eventually relegated to QB3, and his stint in New York is widely described as a “nightmare” or disaster season by media and fans.

The hamstring and controversy

Wilson later disclosed that he tore his hamstring (Grade 2) in practice before a Week 2 game and still played, saying he didn’t tell the team so they never listed him on the injury report.

That combination of poor play plus a hidden injury led to talk of an “inevitable” NFL look at whether injury‑reporting rules were followed, even as Wilson publicly defended the Giants for not knowing.

Where things stand now

  • As of January 2026, Wilson is set to be a free agent and has switched agents while positioning himself for one more opportunity, possibly even as a backup somewhere.
  • Media and forums are split: some think he’s “done” as a serious starter, others think a limited, backup or bridge role on a QB‑needy team is still realistic given his résumé.

Bottom line: when people ask “what happened to Russell Wilson,” they’re usually talking about the sharp decline from elite Seahawks star to aging, benched veteran fighting just to stay in the league.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.