Russell Wilson confirmed to reporters on Friday that the Broncos compelled him to make changes to his contract. According to Wilson, Denver issued a threat in October, stating that if he didn’t defer his $37 million injury guarantee, he would be benched for the remainder of the year.
“They came up to me during the bye week and beginning of the bye week, Monday or Tuesday, and they told me if I didn’t change my contract, my injury guarantee, that I’d be benched the rest of the year,” Wilson told reporters on Friday. “I was definitely disappointed about it. It was a process for the whole bye week.
“We had just come off beating the Chiefs; I was excited for us fighting for the playoffs and getting on a hot streak. The NFLPA and NFL got involved or whatever at some point.”
Wilson, at 35, was officially benched on Wednesday, a few days after the Broncos’ record fell to 7-8, causing them to drift further from playoff contention.
Russell Wilson has acknowledged that Denver insisted on restructuring his contract during the Week 9 bye, threatening to bench him if he didn’t comply. This revelation follows Wilson’s trade from the Seahawks in March 2022, where he signed a five-year, $242.6 million contract extension with Denver.
However, the Broncos have faced challenges, leading to a disappointing season. The recent benching controversy revolves around Wilson’s $37 million injury guarantee for 2025 and the trigger date set for March 2024.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, the veteran quarterback made it clear that he was not willing to alter the injury guarantees in his deal, stating, “I wasn’t going to take away injury guarantees. This is such a physical game. I’ve played for 12 years, and that matters to me,” as reported by The Athletic.
Despite the recent benching controversy, Russell Wilson expressed his ongoing desire to have a future with the Denver Broncos. He emphasized his commitment to the team, stating, “I came here to play here, to win. I knew it was going to be a process. I signed a seven-year deal for us to go and play hard. That’s my goal every time I step in between the white lines: to give everything I have. I want to be here, I want to play here, I want to be able to win here, and I want to win championships here. I want to give my all every week, no matter what the circumstances are, no matter what the score is.”
