Over the past few hours, the Raiders ended their searches for a general manager and head coach. Reports have John Spytek signing a five-year deal to become the next GM and Pete Carroll signing a three-year deal to become the next head coach.
With Carroll’s hiring, the questions immediately began about what he might do to answer the questions at quarterback. Namely, could there be a Russell Wilson reunion in Las Vegas?
The former Pro Bowler is set to be a free agent this offseason.
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe got it started, calling Russell Wilson a “name to watch” for the Raiders.
With Pete Carroll taking over the Raiders, one name I’ve heard to watch at QB: Russell Wilson.
They’ve mended fences, per source, and Wilson could be a stopgap while the Raiders develop a long-term answer.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 24, 2025
A bit later, Peter Schraeger posted a picture of Wilson and Carroll while with the Seahawks, adding “Thoughts Raiders fans?” To which NFL media’s Ian Rapoport noted that Wilson wanted to come to the Raiders last offseason.
Russell Wilson wanted to go the #Raiders last offseason… https://t.co/AICEfQSjK7
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 24, 2025
Wilson played under Pete Carroll for ten years in Seattle. Including many successful years which led to nine Pro Bowls for Wilson and two NFC Championships and a Super Bowl win for the Seahawks.
But 2019 was the last time either won a playoff game and by 2021, Carroll was ready to move on form Wilson. Subsequently trading him to the Broncos.
He was not the Russell Wilson of old in his two seasons in Denver and they ended up cutting him and paying him more money to play for the Steelers, while the Broncos became a playoff team again with Bo Nix at QB.
Wilson started the final 11 games for the Steelers and went 6-5 in the regular season, helping to lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs.
All that is to say, what he offers now at the age of 36 would certainly be better than anything the Raiders have gotten at QB in the past couple years at least. But certainly not what they should be settling for rather than going out and trying to land a long term, franchise quarterback.