We may not know yet where Russell Wilson will play in 2024, but we can now add one more team to the list of teams where he won’t.
Appearing on Up & Adams, Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said point-blank that his team is not the right fit for Wilson. He said that while he respects Wilson a lot, his team is “not the situation” for him to thrive.
“This is not the situation for Russ,” Canales said. “What I will say about him is taking that chance and that opportunity to go to Denver, I really admire him for that. I really admire the courage it took to say ‘I’m gonna branch out from what I’m comfortable with.’ Certainly guys like me who was with him for all 10 years and the level of comfort that comes — I know exactly what he wants, he needs, what he’s gonna ask for, I can anticipate those things. He really gambled on himself to go and try to do something a different way to see what that can become. What it’s become, hey, the film’s out there but I really credit him for that.”
Canales worked for the Seahawks for the entirety of Wilson’s career there, serving as quarterbacks coach from 2018 to 2019 and passing game coordinator from 2020 to 2021.
After Wilson’s departure, Canales worked wonders on Geno Smith in 2022 and on Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. So he knows a thing or two about getting the most out of struggling quarterbacks.
But with Canales set to work with Bryce Young next season, there simply isn’t any room in the team’s plans for Wilson.
He’ll have to find some other home next season.