Mike Tannenbaum suggests Russell Wilson sign with New York Jets, backup Aaron Rodgers

All signs point toward the Denver Broncos and quarterback Russell Wilson heading for a breakup after a pair of frustrating seasons. Assuming that happens, it leaves the question of what’s next for the 35-year-old Super Bowl champion and nine-time Pro Bowler.

Mike Tannenbaum, a former NFL general manager and current analyst for ESPN, thinks he has an elegant solution for Russell Wilson’s future. He thinks that Wilson should sign with the New York Jets and become Aaron Rodgers‘ backup.

Tannenbaum made this suggestion during Monday’s episode of Get Up, shocking everyone else on set. You can watch that moment, here:

Dan Graziano was incredulous over Mike Tannenbaum's suggestion that Russell Wilson could be backing up Aaron Rodgers on the New York Jets next season. That led to Bart Scott checking his coffee mug as well. pic.twitter.com/TOOPiqfjPk

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 19, 2024

“I think he would be a great fit with the New York [Jets],” Tannenbaum said. “And here’s why…pay him $1 million and let him resurrect his career.”

The immediate reaction from everyone else was pretty incredible, but especially from Dan Graziano who stood up and had to take a literal step back he was so shocked at the suggestion. Next to him, Bart Scott was clearly and audibly confused by the idea as well. Still, Mike Tannenbaum explained why he felt it made sense, comparing Russell Wilson to Vinny Testaverde.

“I actually had experience with this. Vinny Testaverde got cut by the Baltimore Ravens. We signed him in June and went to the championship game that year. So, if you’re Russell Wilson…where else is he gonna go? He has to resurrect his career. So, if you have to sit for a year, why not sit behind one of the greatest of all time and then be a free agent again?”

While making that comparison, Scott checked Tannenbaum’s coffee mug to see what was in it, clearly disagreeing with the point he was trying to make. When he did so, the off-camera crew could be heard laughing.

One key piece of Mike Tannenbaum’s argument about Russell Wilson is that, because of his age and downward trajectory, nobody is going to guarantee him a job. That is a point that most everyone else on Get Up seems to disagree with, expecting him to get a better opportunity than as a backup in New York.

“Guys, where is he gonna go? He’s 36 years old. No one is going to hand him a starting job. He’s going to have to be a backup somewhere,” Tannenbaum insisted.

Dan Graziano, still standing up, finished up by joking if that were to happen then they’d have to be on Hard Knocks again.

Aaron Rodgers comments on Russell Wilson situation with Denver Broncos

At the end of the season, Russell Wilson was benched, seemingly to prevent injury and potentially help save Denver money if the Broncos were to move on from him. It was a situation that Aaron Rodgers commented on at the time.

“You know, the team would probably say, ‘Oh, we’re just trying to get him to, you know, move the date on the injury clause or whatever.’ It’s so crazy to threaten, ‘We’re going to sit you if you don’t do this. Look, the NFL is a great profession but it’s a tough business and this kind of stuff is more commonplace than you would think. Obviously, we’re talking about a premier player here and some bizarre circumstances,” Rodgers said.

“I think everyone can look at this objectively, where Russ probably wasn’t Sean’s first choice. My heart actually goes out to Russ for dealing with this. Say whatever you want about him, I think he’s handled this pretty well. I definitely applaud him for speaking on it, because it’s a tough situation and it’s pretty scandalous they would do that.”