To win in the NFL, a team needs a quarterback that’s great, not just good. When a team doesn’t have a player like that, they can panic and sign or trade for players to pry open their Super Bowl window. The Pittsburgh Steelers avoided that when they signed Russell Wilson for pennies on the dollar. However, Wilson’s previous team, the Denver Broncos, certainly did, and it did not end well. His stint in Denver led some to question his leadership and commitment to winning, a narrative that sticks today.
Some former players have even come out and stated that they believe Wilson was a key problem in Denver, particularly his last year with Sean Payton.