Inner-Circle Leading to Russell Wilson’s Downfall as Seahawks Veteran Reveals QB’s True Colors

The Giants rolled the dice on Russell Wilson, hoping the 36-year-old quarterback still has magic left. Wilson’s 2024 numbers tell a mixed story: a 63.7% completion rate, 16 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a playoff berth with Pittsburgh. But those stats mask deeper concerns about his declining mobility and decision-making speed. Rookie Jaxson Dart waits behind him, representing the franchise’s future while Wilson fights to prove he’s not washed up. He dropped from elite status to 26th in league rankings, creating pressure he hasn’t felt since his time in Seattle. This backdrop sets the stage for Doug Baldwin’s brutally honest assessment.

Doug Baldwin didn’t hold back during his recent Get Got Pod podcast appearance, dropping some hard truths about his former Seattle teammate Russell Wilson. The receiver who caught Wilson’s passes for seven seasons revealed that their friendship has grown cold since Wilson left the Seahawks after 2021. Baldwin admitted the uncomfortable truth about their current relationship without sugarcoating anything for listeners. “I haven’t spoken to him in a long time, if I’m honest,” Baldwin stated bluntly. Former teammates who once shared locker rooms and playoff runs now exist in completely separate worlds.

Baldwin expressed deeper worries about Wilson’s current support system and the people influencing his decisions. “My prayer for him is that I really hope that he has people around him who are not just yes men, but are telling him the truth about who he is, what he’s trying to accomplish, and who he says he wants to be,” Baldwin explained with genuine concern. But why is this a concern? Wilson enters 2025 carrying the NFL record for most sacks taken, with 560 over 13 seasons. Last year with Pittsburgh, he absorbed 33 more hits behind an increasingly struggling offensive line. The Giants inherited a quarterback whose body shows every bit of punishment from over a decade of wear and tear. Baldwin recognizes the human cost of Wilson’s career longevity.

Baldwin’s final assessment captures his conflicted feelings about Wilson’s current situation perfectly. “He’s a good man… but he’s going through trials and tribulations… I give him a lot of grace… and I worry about him,” Baldwin reflected. These words reveal genuine concern for someone who shared championship dreams but now watches from a distance as Wilson navigates New York’s unforgiving spotlight. When Doug Baldwin realized Wilson’s true character emerged under pressure, the warning signs became clear. Now Giants brass holds Russell Wilson on the shortest leash possible, knowing one stumble ends everything.

Russell Wilson faces immediate pressure to prove Giants made right choice

Russell Wilson’s Giants tenure starts with a brutal reality check against the Commanders in Week 1. The 36-year-old quarterback inherited a franchise desperate for wins after managing just nine victories over two seasons. Wilson knows his leash is shorter than that of most veterans, especially with first-round pick Jaxson Dart waiting behind him. The Athletic’s Dan Duggan sees trouble brewing if Wilson can’t deliver early wins. New York’s first four games read like a playoff gauntlet: Commanders, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Chargers. Each opponent presents unique challenges that could expose Wilson’s declining mobility and decision-making speed. Duggan believes Wilson must win against these contenders to keep his starting job secure.

“Giants brass has told everyone who will listen since the draft that Russell Wilson is the unquestioned starting quarterback, and the plan is for first-round pick Jaxson Dart to develop behind the scenes,” Duggan wrote. “But history suggests otherwise in New York. The Giants pulled similar moves in 2019 when Eli Manning was supposed to mentor Daniel Jones. Jones took over after an 0-2 start, ending Manning’s career unceremoniously.” Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen need wins to save their jobs after consecutive disappointing seasons. If Wilson stumbles early, Dart becomes the obvious solution to demonstrate progress to ownership. Duggan identified Week 5 against New Orleans as the perfect launching pad for Dart’s career.

“If Wilson looks unable to keep the Giants in the hunt for the postseason, Daboll should turn to Dart to display what the possibilities are with the first-round pick under center,” Duggan explained. The Saints’ rebuilding status under Kellen Moore makes them an ideal opponent for a rookie debut. Wilson’s Giants career hangs in the balance before it even begins.