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New York Knicks crowd welcomes Russell Wilson, QB throws autographed football into crowd

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•03/26/25
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The New York Giants went out and landed Russell Wilson in free agency. And the former Steelers quarterback didn’t take very long to start getting acquainted with his new fans. On Wednesday evening, Wilson was sitting courtside at a New York Knicks game. He signed a football and threw it into the crowd.

Last offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Fields from the Chicago Bears and signed Wilson to a one-year deal following his release from the Denver Broncos. Tomlin named Wilson the starter over Fields coming out of training camp and the preseason, but a calf injury forced him to miss the first six games of the season. Fields led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 record before making way for Wilson. The Steelers won six of Wilson’s first seven starts. At one point, Pittsburgh carried a 10-3 record and occupied first place in a competitive AFC North.

A four-game losing streak to end the regular season meant that Pittsburgh would have to play on the road as a Wild Card against the Baltimore Ravens, who captured the division crown for the second consecutive season. Pittsburgh dropped their sixth consecutive playoff game dating back to 2016 under Tomlin. The Wilson-led offense was shutout in the first half, soundly defeated 28-14 by the Ravens. Wilson completed 20-of-29 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns.

Wilson is older now and not the same quarterback who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013.

“Obviously, this year was an exciting year in a lot of ways,” Wilson said. “It was tough at the end. Obviously, we didn’t get it done. But I’ve got so much more in me, man. I’m excited. Obviously, my goal is to be with the Pittsburgh Steelers a long time and, hopefully, finish my career there. … I’ve always gone against the odds and people doubting. I think that’s just part of my nature. I don’t know if that’s little-man syndrome or what.

“But I love ball, man. I love competing every day. And I love getting after it. Anybody that knows me, knows that I’m going to do everything I can to be my best for the longest time possible.”

On3’s Nick Geddes also contributed to this article.