Russell Wilson Says Steelers 'Helped Rejuvenate Me in Every Way' During 2024 Season

New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson spoke positively about his 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a Thursday appearance on the Wave Original 7Pm in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony podcast.

Wilson is heading into the 2025 campaign as a projected starting quarterback for the Giants after parting ways with the Steelers in free agency this spring.

"Pittsburgh was a good place for me, man. It really helped rejuvenate me, just in every way, just because of the locker room there, the pros, guys like TJ Watt and Cam Heyward," Wilson said at the 9:40 mark of the podcast.

Wilson went on to praise teammates Miles Killebrew, Calvin Austin III, Najee Harris and Dan Moore Jr. as well as head coach Mike Tomlin as people who made his experience in Pittsburgh.

"A guy from Virginia, Black coach, has been successful," Wilson said about Tomlin. "It was really unique to be around his mentality and all that too, and really experience that again. Similar to Pete Carroll, in a way."

Wilson went on to call Tomlin "one of all time great coaches" at the 20-minute mark of the podcast.

“I think there's three things about Mike Tomlin that's special. I think the first thing is his ability, his obsession, his work ethic. He's there early at 4:30 in the morning and watching the film himself. Head coaches don't do that," Wilson said.

Wilson continued, "I think the second thing is his ability to connect to players is remarkable. His ability to have connectivity, his ability to relate to the Black kid, to the white kid, to the guy that's been successful, the guy that's just starting to find that motivation and turn that up and also be able to neutralize it and turn it down too when it's too high or whatever. Just to be able to connect in the moment, in each moment throughout the game.

"And then I think ultimately, I think the thing that's really unique about him is talking about the ability to embrace the noise, the ability to embrace the obstacles and all that he stares at right in the face and he doesn't run from it. I think he does a good job of that. Those are things that make him unique and obviously he's one of all time great coaches. He's a guy that's going to be in the Hall of Fame and everything because of what he's been able to do.”

Wilson took the majority of first-team snaps during the Giants' first open practice of the offseason on Wednesday, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan.

Given that Wilson's one-year, $10.5 million deal with the Giants is heavily laden with incentives regarding playing time and performance, per Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, he will hope his experience with Tomlin and the Steelers will help him retain the starting job over Jameis Winston and rookie Jaxson Dart heading into his first season in New York.