As the 2022 season approached, the Philadelphia Eagles set their sights on acquiring a new leader for their offense. Their target: none other than former Wisconsin Badgers’ star quarterback Russell Wilson. With a trade on the horizon, the course of the NFL seemed ready to shift. However, Wilson, taking control of his future, decided to put a stop to it before it was finalized, leaving the Eagles and the rest of the NFL to adapt to a new reality.
The Eagles were eager to bring Wilson on board, seeing him as a potential upgrade from their current quarterback, Jalen Hurts. Despite Hurts’ successful season with the team, the Eagles were intrigued by Wilson’s style of play and believed he could bring a new dynamic to their offense. It seemed that Wilson was on the verge of swapping the blue and green of the Seahawks for the midnight green of the Eagles.
However, as we now know, that swap never came to fruition. Russell Wilson chose to veto the proposed trade, a decision that had significant repercussions on the NFL landscape. Instead, he later ended up riding with the Denver Broncos.
It’s intriguing to consider the what-ifs had Wilson chosen to accept the trade to Philadelphia. Would the Eagles have had a different kind of season with him at the helm? How would Jalen Hurts’ career trajectory have changed? Would Wilson be saying, “Let’s fly,” instead? As we reflect on these unanswered questions, one thing is clear: Russell Wilson’s decision to nix the trade to the Eagles has left an indelible mark on the 2022 season.