New York Giants fans have known for quite some time that Russell Wilson's NFL career won't last much longer. After he was replaced by Jaxson Dart earlier this season, it looked like the 37-year-old's days as a starting quarterback are behind him, which could lead him to retire this offseason.
But just because the 10-time Pro Bowler retires doesn't mean he'll stay away from football. Fans have always known that, between his personality and football knowledge, he was destined to pursue a career in sports media, and he gave fans a glimpse of what's to come once his playing days are over.
Last weekend, while the Giants were on a bye, Wilson joined The NFL Today on CBS, where he proved those claims right. Russ has never been camera shy, and that led to ex-NFL quarterback Matt Ryan admitting that the future Hall-of-Famer is an obvious natural when it comes to dissecting the game.
Matt Ryan says Russell Wilson has an obvious future in sports broadcasting once his playing days are over
During an appearance on NFL Network's The Insiders with Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Ryan said that his "wealth of knowledge" suggests he could thrive in a full-time role. The former NFL MVP seamlessly transitioned from playing to broadcasting after retiring, and said Russ could do the same.
Wilson has thrown for nearly 50,000 passing yards in his career, and that's the sort of experience you can't teach. The Super Bowl-winning signal-caller might not be the quarterback he was earlier in his career, but is still managing to provide knowledge, whether it's to football fans or mentorship to Dart.
However, something worth noting is that Rapoport clarified we have no idea what Wilson will be doing next season. Just because he impressed in a sports media role doesn't mean he's going to decide to hang up his cleats when he's still capable of playing at a high-quality level, and he'll have a market.
Wilson is heralded as the ultimate teammate, so the fact he's this sort of football Swiss Army knife is exciting to see. And Ryan said he believes everything Russ has been through in his career helps make his perspective so interesting, especially because he's witnessed the evolution of the NFL firsthand.
It's become increasingly common to see retired NFL stars try their hand at broadcasting once their playing careers are over. Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and J.J. Watt are among the players who have tried and succeeded, so Wilson being next in line isn't a shock to Giants fans despite his awkwardness.