Quarterback Russell Wilson denied Friday a report in The Athletic that he allegedly wanted head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider fired.
Wilson, now the QB for the Denver Broncos, posted on Twitter after the report came out, calling Carroll a father figure and saying he never wanted either fired.
The Seahawks traded their 10-year starting quarterback on March 8, 2022, to Denver for quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and a bevy of picks, including the 2022 first-rounder used to select offensive tackle Charles Cross ninth overall.
After the trade, owner Jody Allen said in a statement that Wilson “made it clear he wanted this change.”
The tension between Wilson and Carroll came after their first losing season with the then-33-year-old QB under centre, the team going 6-8 after nine straight winning seasons. It was their second time missing the playoffs since Wilson had been drafted.
The dual-threat quarterback won Seattle its first and so far only Super Bowl ring in 2013, his second year in the NFL. The Seahawks lost to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl the following year.
After that infamous loss at the goal-line in 2014, the Seahawks failed to make the conference championship, let alone the Super Bowl, for the remainder of Wilson’s tenure.
His time in Denver hasn’t gone to plan, with the team finishing 5-12 and last in the AFC West. First-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired after 15 games.
The nine-time Pro Bowl QB also had his worst season, finishing with 3,524 yards and a poor 16 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. He was also sacked a career-high 55 times, with the mobility he was once known for starting to show signs of fading.
