Russell Wilson joined the New York Giants in March on a one-year contract, set to assume the starting quarterback role for the upcoming season. The Giants also added veteran Jameis Winston and selected Jaxson Dart in the first round of this year’s <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL Draft as part of their quarterback strategy amidst ongoing debate surrounding the Russell Wilson Giants QB controversy.
Despite Wilson’s ten Pro Bowl selections and Super Bowl XLVIII championship, ESPN analyst Kevin Clark expressed strong skepticism regarding Wilson’s ability to lead the Giants effectively. On the recent episode of ESPN’s ‘First Take,’ Clark labeled Wilson a “bust,” suggesting that the Giants’ management is more focused on preserving their own jobs than building a winning team.
“This one (Russell Wilson) going to be a bust with no qualifications,” Clark said. “Okay, I’m not going to call him the 18th best quarterback or whatever. Uh, I struggle to see the vision here with the New York Giants. I think that they’re in job preservation mode with the coach and GM.
“I think they’re going to want to go to Jaxson Dart as soon as possible in order to build a proof of concept and say, ‘Hey, we deserve these jobs in 2026 because we’re building with the young quarterback.’ Russell Wilson is not good enough to win eight, nine, 10 games, the type of performance you need to save your job. It’s going to be a bust for Russell Wilson.” —Kevin Clark, NFL Analyst
Recent Giants and Russell Wilson Performance Context
The Giants concluded last season with a disappointing 3-14 record, finishing at the bottom of the NFC East. This poor performance led to released contracts for Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, leaving Tommy DeVito as the only returning quarterback on the roster.
Meanwhile, Wilson spent the 2024 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a backup and occasional starter, playing alongside Justin Fields. Over 11 games, Wilson threw for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdown passes. The Steelers managed a playoff berth but were eliminated in the wild-card round by the Baltimore Ravens.
Wilson’s High Regard for Giants Wide Receiver Malik Nabers
At the 2025 Fanatics Fest last month, Russell Wilson shared his enthusiasm about playing with the Giants’ promising wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Nabers had a strong rookie season, starting 13 of 15 games with 1,204 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
“It’s funny cause my locker room is the locker I had when we won the Super Bowl. Second thing is, my locker is right next to this dude (Malik Nabers), the best wide receiver in the league.” —Russell Wilson, Giants Quarterback
Wilson’s praise highlighted confidence in Nabers’ potential to elevate the Giants’ offense this season, providing a valuable weapon as Wilson aims to prove his worth amid ongoing scrutiny.
Implications for the Giants’ Future Outlook
The Giants face a crucial season that will test whether Russell Wilson can overcome doubts and help transform the team‘s fortunes. Kevin Clark’s predictions of a bust and references to a job preservation strategy suggest that the Giants’ leadership might soon shift focus to developing Jaxson Dart as their long-term quarterback.
How Wilson performs this year will likely influence the coaching staff and management’s decisions as they prepare for the 2026 season, with Wilson’s ability to deliver a winning record being central to those outcomes. Meanwhile, the Giants’ offense, bolstered by Malik Nabers and other key players, will be under pressure to produce consistent results that can change the narrative surrounding the franchise.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does Russell Wilson have ADHD?
A. Wilson found out he had ADHD when he was young. He explains that being easily distracted and inattentive has never affected his love and concentration on football.
Q. What happened between Russell Wilson and his ex-wife?
A. Wilson ended his marriage with Ashton last year amid gossip about her being unfaithful with Golden Tate, a Seahawks teammate. Tate denied these claims, then joined the Detroit Lions. With Ashton out of Russell’s life, the quarterback is single and may consider dating again.
Q. What happened to Russell Wilson and his wife?
A. In 2014, Russell married Ashton when he was 24. They met in high school, both playing sports. Their marriage occurred during Russell’s early NFL career. They mostly kept away from public attention until Russell asked for a divorce two years later, with cheating rumors swirling around.
Q. How many kids do Ciara and Russell Wilson have?
A. Besides raising Future, Wilson and Ciara have three children together: Sienna, Win, and Amora, born in December 2023. On May 10, 2025, they celebrated Mother’s Day by creating a special red carpet event for Ciara. The singer shared this celebration on Instagram.