When Russell Wilson joined the Mile-High City in 2022 amid Super Bowl dreams, few could have foreseen the debacle unfolding – an 11-19 record and a messy divorce from head coach Sean Payton. But now, with a one-year deal in Pittsburgh, Wilson gets a shot at redemption and silencing the doubters.

“He was constantly climbing out of the back of the pocket. He struggled with snap counts. He couldn’t manage or handle the play-calling,” analyst Aditi Kinkhabwala bluntly assessed Wilson’s struggles with the Denver Broncos on the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show.

The issues in Denver were glaring per Kinkhabwala, as she revealed the damning fact that “by the end of the season, all the play calls had to be two words and everybody else was required to know what the play calls were.” It was an indictment of Wilson’s inability to grasp Payton’s system. “There is a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very valid reason Sean Payton is saying, ‘I’m going to pay this guy millions upon millions of dollars to be nowhere near my locker room,'” Aditi added.

This refers to the dead money hit that the Broncos took when they released Wilson. About 2 years after he was traded to Denver, the team announced its plan to release the veteran quarterback from his 5-year, $242 million contract, signed before the 2022 campaign. As a result, Sean Payton & Co. will take an $85 million hit in dead money against its salary cap in 2024 ($35.4 million) and 2025 ($49.6 million).

Per Kinkhabwala, “Sean Payton is one of the best quarterback coaches and one of the best offensive minds in our game.” He’s seen tremendous success with the likes of Drew Brees, Jameis Winston, and Teddy Bridgewater. But something just didn’t work out with Russell Wilson over the past couple of seasons. The Drew Brees-Sean Payton combination was a class apart. From 2006 to 2021 (minus the 2012 season), they won a staggering 142 games, becoming the winningest coach-QB combination in New Orleans history and only second to Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in the NFL.

As for some of the others who have started games under Payton: –

• Teddy Bridgewater: 5-0 record, threw for 1,384 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions
• Jameis Winston: 5-2 record, threw for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions
• Russell Wilson: 7-8 record, threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions

Wilson’s 2023 stats (66.4% completion, 3,070 yards, 26 TDs, 8 INTs) show he still possesses the talent that once made him a Super Bowl winner and 9-time Pro Bowler. Despite these stats, his biggest limitation was that his highs were high, but his lows were equally low – 45 sacks and 10 fumbles this season. Now that he’s left Denver for greener pastures in Pittsburgh, he reunites with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, whose playbook mirrors the play-action style Wilson thrived in during his Seattle heyday – potentially reigniting his prowess.

With a massive chip on his shoulder, the 35-year-old is hellbent on using this fresh start to “rise from the ashes,” as one reporter coined his Denver debacle. With no lack of exceptional players, second chances are rare in the high-octane and unforgiving world of the NFL. And, Wilson aims to make this one count.

The Sean Payton-Russell Wilson partnership implosion

At the core of Russell Wilson’s Denver downfall was a clash of personalities and philosophies – the polished, rehearsed star quarterback against the fiery, detail-obsessed Sean Payton. From heated sideline exchanges to red zone meltdowns, their partnership was destined to implode in hindsight. “What I talk with Russell about is none of your business,” Payton snapped after one public blowup, capturing the eroding dynamics of the duo.

The coach’s frustration stemmed from Wilson’s refusal to fully embrace the system, his free-flowing style clashing with Payton’s meticulous game plans. But their biggest disconnect manifested in the red zone trenches. Kinkhabwala recounted how the Broncos “went from putting a wristband on [Wilson] to, by the end of the season, all the play calls had to be two words” because of constant miscommunications on scoring opportunities.

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One stinging example: A late December CBS broadcast caught Payton seemingly grimacing, not smiling, after Wilson’s fourth-down scramble deep in Houston territory, setting up a potential game-winning score. Three snaps later, a “chaos” play dashed those hopes with a turnover, encapsulating the team’s dysfunctional situation.

Wilson’s strengths of improvisation became a weakness under Payton’s demanding structure. As their tug-of-war reached its peak, the coach’s words carried a “valid reason” – Wilson’s $37 million guarantee was too steep for insubordination. However, the split has paved a new path for Wilson in Pittsburgh, where the veteran QB will hope for an offensive architect who finally embraces his quarterback DNA.