Russell Wilson Could Be An Option For Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs struggled to find much of a rhythm during the 2025 NFL season, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing out on the playoffs for the first time in his career. To make matters worse, Mahomes saw his season cut short after tearing his ACL in Week 15, potentially putting the start of his 2026 season in jeopardy.
It has been about three months since Mahomes suffered the serious knee injury, spending the playoffs and offseason recovering. The good news for the former Texas Tech star is that he was recently seen at a BYU basketball game walking without much of a limp. But the bad news is that Mahomes does not have an experienced backup quarterback behind him after Gardner Minshew departed for the Arizona Cardinals . Still, the Chiefs could have their eye on a big name to fill that void.
Russell Wilson , after spending his college career with NC State and Wisconsin, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 75 pick in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He spent 10 seasons in Seattle, earning nine Pro Bowl selections and helping the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII.
Following the 2021 season, Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos , where he spent two years. But his tenure in Denver did not last long, as he was released after the 2023 season. After spending the next year with the Pittsburgh Steelers , Wilson landed with the New York Giants in 2025. He began last season as the starting quarterback before rookie Jaxson Dart took over, sending Wilson to the bench.
Now, Wilson is looking for another home as he hopes to keep his career going. And with the Chiefs searching for a new backup for Mahomes, Complex’s Bernadette Giacomazzo noted that Wilson could be an option for Kansas City, calling it a “development that has begun circulating across league conversations.”
"Chiefs eye Russell Wilson during Mahomes' ACL recovery," Complex wrote on X.
If the Chiefs were to land Wilson, he would almost certainly become one of the best backups that Mahomes has ever had.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
