Russell Wilson is proving that his arrival to the New York Giants is no coincidence. At 36 years old, he’s looking to bring all his experience to head coach Brian Daboll’s team. After a stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers that included a long injury at the start of the 2024 NFL season, the veteran quarterback spoke about how he feels in the position battle alongside Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart.
Wilson signed a one-year deal worth $10.5 million with the Giants, a figure that could potentially rise to $21 million with incentives, after leaving the Steelers. His goal is to stabilize an offense that showed inconsistency throughout last season.
Even though Daboll has already named him the starting quarterback for the upcoming campaign, Wilson isn’t taking anything for granted. He’s staying focused in the competition against teammates who are also aiming for the Giants’ QB1 role. In that context, Russ made it clear he still has a lot left to give.
Russell Wilson sends a warning to his QB1 competitors
“If anybody’s battle-tested, I am. I can handle anything. I think the best part about it, too, is that as a leader, you want everybody to know what they’re getting every day. And I think that’s what I want to be able to establish every day,” Wilson said following practice in East Rutherford.
Russell Wilson joined the New York Giants this offseason
Russ’ competitors
While Wilson takes the starting role, rookie Dart, a 2025 first-round draft pick, arrives with high expectations and will apply pressure on the veteran. In the early days of training camp, Dart rotated in during drills and occasionally replaced another strong name in the mix, Winston, who signed a two-year deal worth $8 million.
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In this scenario, Wilson’s role isn’t just about winning a three-man competition — it’s also about setting the tone and guiding his younger teammates. The Giants’ locker room clearly sees Russ as the leader, but Dart and Winston are fighting for the backup role, with the chance to take on a bigger role depending on their performance.
