NFL HC Defends Steelers' Russell Wilson: 'Feel Bad for All the Scrutiny He Has Faced'

Once an MVP candidate and a Super Bowl winner, Russell Wilson's stats have tapered off over the last few seasons and he's become subject to plenty of criticism after his stint with the Denver Broncos.

Per The Athletic's Mike Sando, one NFL head coach said that while he thinks some of the criticism is unfair, as Wilson is not the same quarterback he once was.

"I didn't think that would go well with Sean (Payton)," the head coach said. "I feel bad for all the scrutiny he has faced, some of which he brings on himself. I just don't think he sees the field well. I see a guy that played a certain way and was able to do it at a high level for a certain period of time, and I just don't think he has the athleticism to play that way."

Wilson had the worst statistical season of his career last year with Denver, throwing for 3,070 passing yards and 26 touchdowns in 15 games.

He'll get a fresh start this season under coach Mike Tomlin with the Pittsburgh Steelers and he'll look to revitalize his career in his 13th NFL season.

The Steelers have yet to name Wilson the starter over Justin Fields, who Pittsburgh traded for this offseason, but Tomlin said the team will make a decision "at the end of the work week," per NFL.com's Coral Smith.

With preseason now complete, Tomlin and the Steelers will have to decide between a veteran with proven success and a young quarterback who struggled in his first few seasons. Wilson, who played less than Fields during the preseason, completed 10 of his 12 passes for 73 yards in two games. Fields had 199 passing yards on 19-of-27 passing in three games.