PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Sure scoring points was huge. Throwing a couple of touchdown passes was great. Getting the win was the goal, but for Russell Wilson, the emotions around his first game as a Steeler aren't that complex.
"The coolest part about playing the game of football is being in the huddle with the other guys," Wilson said after practice on Thursday. "They're talking ball, and you're trying to find ways to make the next play. It was really great."
It wasn't great at the beginning, but Wilson kept his demeanor the same even when boos and chants for Fields started to slowly emerge around the stadium. Arthur Smith said it was the 44-yard pass to George Pickens that settled Wilson into his first game in 10 months. After that, a lot of scoring. The most points the Steelers have had in a win since 2020.
"It's fun to celebrate with your guys, on the field, the defense making great plays, the special teams getting blocks and all that," Wilson said. "The celebration of just being on the field again. It's the greatest gift in the world. I'm one of 32 men in the world that gets to do what I get to do, and it's a great gift and an honor."
Maybe it's being 35 years-old and having been benched last year in a turmoil-filled season in Denver. There is an approach, an energy Wilson brought to the team from the start of OTAs through his injuries and finally into a real game.
"Every week feels like Super Bowl week to me," Wilson said. "I don't look at them any different. You got to have that mentality that you prepare that way every week, and you get used to that. And they get comfortable in that, not comfortable in a bad way, but you understand that the sense of urgency every week, every huddle, every practice, every meeting, is everything."
When you look at the Steelers team, once filled with Super Bowl champions, currently besides Wilson-receivers Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller and linebacker Elandon Roberts have won an NFL championship.
When you hear players discuss what Wilson brings, to a man they discuss the credibility that comes with winning it all. They want to know about that experience and will listen to what a Super Bowl champ says about a lot of things.
One of the areas he preaches is the value of dealing with failure.
"I don't mind a little adversity," Wilson said. "I know it's temporary, and you go through it, and you rise to the occasion when it's needed."
Wilson did against the Jets in a small sample size.
It's a team that likes both of its quarterbacks, right now it's firmly Russ' team.
