Current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver DK Metcalf were teammates with the Seattle Seahawks from 2019 up until Seattle traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos in March 2022.
After the Steelers agreed to a trade to acquire Metcalf from the Seahawks, Seattle sports insider and KJR Radio host Ian Furness suggested during an appearance on the latest edition of the “Breakfast With Benz” podcast that Wilson was directly responsible for Metcalf wanting to leave the Seahawks this offseason.
“I think Russ is the reason (Metcalf) wanted out,” Furness said, as shared by Tim Benz of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I think Russ whispered in his ears. Russ has been a cancer for the Seahawk organization. Russ keeps in contact with (Metcalf) and (former Seattle receiver Tyler Lockett). I know — from what I understand inside the building — they’re pretty confident that Russ is the guy who was whispering in DK’s ears. Kind of poisoning the well, so to speak.”
Stories about Wilson being a “cancer” in the Seattle locker room arose before he reportedly tried to get former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and Seattle general manager John Schneider fired in February 2022. The Seahawks later pushed Carroll into an advisor role after the 2023 season, and he and Wilson “mended fences” before Carroll became head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this offseason.
Interestingly, there’s no guarantee Wilson will throw passes to Metcalf later this year even though Pittsburgh’s Justin Fields is set to join the New York Jets. The Steelers may prefer to sign Aaron Rodgers rather than run it back with Wilson for another year, but stories have also linked Rodgers with the New York Giants.
Nevertheless, Furness indicated that people within the Seahawks blame Wilson for the fact that Metcalf is expected to sign a five-year, $150M contract extension once he officially joins the Steelers after the new league year opens on Wednesday.
“He’s a clubhouse politician,” Furness added about Wilson. “He wasn’t trying to get (Metcalf) in Pittsburgh, thinking he was going to be in Pittsburgh. He’s like, ‘Yeah, man, you should, you should get (paid).'”
It certainly sounds as if Wilson isn’t the most popular guy inside the Seahawks team facility these days. As Benz noted, Wilson could eventually sign a deal with the Tennessee Titans if the Steelers agree to a contract with Rodgers.
