Russell Wilson might not suit up for an NFL franchise in the upcoming season. The veteran QB is finalizing a major deal to jump into broadcasting rather than taking another snap on the field. This leaves his NFL future in doubt.

"Quarterback Russell Wilson is finalizing a deal to become a CBS Sports analyst," ESPN's Adam Schefter was told by sources.

He is joining the network's flagship pregame show alongside James Brown, Nate Burleson, and Bill Cowher. He'll be taking over the studio seat left vacant by former QB Matt Ryan, who recently assumed the role of the Atlanta Falcons' president of football.

The biggest twist here is that the 37-year-old signal-caller has not officially announced his retirement from professional football. The situation remains completely open.

"It is unclear if Wilson is retiring as a player or simply taking a pause on his playing career," as per ESPN.

Before signing with CBS, Wilson checked out the New York Jets. The Jets offered him a low-cost backup gig behind his former Seattle understudy, Geno Smith.

Taking that role meant a steep pay cut from his previous $10.5 million Giants contract, per ESPN. This makes the potential transition to a television studio financially more lucrative.

The reason for the 10-time Pro Bowler's situation being this dire is his last season's performance. He was quickly benched by the New York Giants, following a tough start 0-3.

This quick benching came after a stint with four different franchises in the last five seasons. This includes the Seahawks, Broncos, and Steelers, before his brief stint in New York.

Inside the Numbers of a Historic 14-Year Career of Russell Wilson

If this transition does end up marking the end of his playing career, Wilson leaves behind some incredibly massive numbers.

Since his debut in 2012, Russell Wilson has thrown for 353 touchdowns, which ranks as the third-most in the NFL behind only Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford during that span. He also accumulated 46,966 passing yards (ranking 5th since his debut).

But he wasn't just renowned for his passing game. He was a threat when it came to rushing as well, ranking 4th overall among QBs in NFL history with 5,568 career rushing yards. Only Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick, and Cam Newton rank ahead of Wilson.

One of Wilson's most recognizable traits was his "moon ball". Since 2012, Wilson has led the NFL with 44 TDs on passes thrown at least 30 yards or more.

Wilson also had the record for being the winningest QB in NFL history for a player's first nine pro seasons, with 98 regular-season victories (107 including the postseason).

During this time, he added a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, where he holds the franchise record for passing yards (37,059) and Touchdown passes (292).

Do you think Russell Wilson's media move is a permanent career change? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Nisarga Aseem Barkule

Edited by

Rudra Dubey