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Russell Wilson’s future destination is still unknown. But his immediate future? It sounds like it’s still in the NFL.
On Sunday, NFL Network senior national columnist Judy Battista reported that Wilson, who is set to reach free agency, is aiming to keep playing into his age-37 season. The timing is notable, too, with the news surfacing during Super Bowl week, when league decision-makers, agents, and team brass are all in the same place and offseason quarterback conversations accelerate fast.
For Broncos fans, the update matters for a simple reason: Denver’s quarterback plan is one of the league’s biggest dominoes every offseason, and any veteran quarterback who signals he’s continuing to play becomes part of the broader supply-and-demand picture.
NFL.com Report Says Wilson Plans to Keep Playing Into Age-37 Season
Battista’s report effectively answers the “is he retiring?” question that tends to follow veteran quarterbacks approaching the back half of their careers.
Instead, it frames Wilson as someone preparing for another year, and doing so as a pending free agent. That’s a meaningful combination. Even without a team attached, a veteran quarterback publicly signaling he intends to play can influence how the market develops and how teams approach contingency plans.
Why this matters right now: Super Bowl week is when early “framework” conversations often begin — and when quarterback interest can quietly form ahead of the legal tampering window and free agency.
Once free agency opens, quarterback decisions can happen in clusters. A handful of signings or trades can reshape the market in 24-72 hours, leaving fewer landing spots for veterans who are still waiting.
How Wilson’s Status Affects Denver’s Offseason Conversation
This isn’t a report about a Broncos reunion. It’s a report about Wilson continuing his career.
Still, for Denver, it matters because it’s another reminder of how quickly the quarterback carousel develops, and how teams are constantly comparing options across tiers: draft prospects, trade targets, and veterans who can start or serve as a bridge.
Even with Bo Nix expected back from injury, the Broncos may poke around the QB market after seeing Jarrett Stidham struggle in the AFC Championship. Whether the Broncos are looking for a long-term franchise answer, a short-term starter, or competition in the room, Wilson remaining in the mix adds one more name to the list teams may weigh as plans evolve.
Denver’s offseason QB work typically runs on two tracks at once: (1) scouting and draft positioning, and (2) veteran market intelligence, who might be available, when, and at what price point. A veteran confirming he plans to play keeps that second track active.
Even with Wilson now set to reach free agency, Denver is only just getting breathing room from the financial fallout of his exit. After the Broncos released Wilson in March 2024, they absorbed an NFL-record $85 million in dead money spread across two seasons — $53 million in 2024 and $32 million in 2025 — meaning his contract consequences lingered on the cap long after he left the building.
Wilson’s Resume Still Carries Weight Around the League
Wilson’s career includes a Super Bowl championship with the Seahawks and multiple seasons as one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks, with a long track record as both a passer and a creator outside structure.
Even as teams focus heavily on what a player is now, that kind of résumé still matters in free agency conversations, particularly for organizations that want experience at the position, leadership, or a quarterback who has handled playoff-level expectations.
What Happens Next for Wilson and What Broncos Fans Should Watch
The biggest unanswered questions are straightforward: where Wilson lands, what role he’s offered, and what the contract looks like.
From a Broncos-fan perspective, the “watch list” is just as simple:
When the QB market starts moving (trades, early free-agent signings)
Which teams miss out on their first-choice options
How the draft board shapes up and whether teams pivot away from veterans
What contract structures look like for older veteran QBs (guarantees, incentives, starter triggers)
Veteran quarterback deals often come down to structure more than headline dollars, guarantees, roster bonuses, and incentives can define whether a signing is a true “starter commitment” or a flexible bridge.
For now, though, the news is the news: per Battista’s Sunday report, Wilson intends to keep playing, and his age-37 season is part of the plan.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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