Broncos' next HC decision could end up being make or break for Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson and the Denver Broncos have been living a nightmare for the entire 2022 season. That only continued on Christmas Day when the team was blown out, 51-14, against Baker Mayfield and the Los Angeles Rams.
The team finally found rock bottom and it led to first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett losing his job during the holidays. He was the easy scapegoat, leading the NFL's worst offense for the entire season.
But the attention now fully turns towards Wilson. He showed up in Denver and immediately signed a five-year, $245 million extension. The nine-time Pro Bowler was supposed to turn the franchise around, not make it a bottom-feeder.
A new coach will now show up with the goal of fixing this mess. But if the quarterback flounders again in 2023, that could be it for his career.
Russell Wilson is dealing with new ownership in Denver
There was an even bigger change in Denver earlier this year, other than the ones made with the coach and quarterback. The Walton-Penner group took over ownership of the Broncos.
The group made its fortune via Walmart and has the money to correct mistakes if needed.
For example, some ownership groups may see the Wilson contract as a sunk cost that cannot be moved on from. However, this ownership group may be fine spending a large fortune to move on without that tanking them from a financial perspective.
The veteran quarterback may get a free pass for 2022, given the shortcomings of Hackett from the start. He failed to do simple game management tasks and had to hire someone to help him with basic things. This was a red flag and it's easy to see why the Broncos can't even score 16 points per game on average.
But let's say the team swings big and lands someone like Jim Harbaugh or Sean Payton. These coaches have proven successful with different players under center. Wilson failing under them would prove he is more of the problem than any coaching.
So what does "make-or-break" mean for Wilson? That would mean a turnaround cements his status as an all-time NFL great, chalking up 2022 as a rough season with a bad coach.
He continued regression may mean his legacy is forever tarnished, ruining the Super Bowl path he established during his time with the Seattle Seahawks.
New ownership in Denver means the team won't be outbid for their next head coach. This should mean a big name is coming in, and not a coordinator getting his first shot, like what happened with Hackett.
That squarely puts the pressure on Wilson as he aims to prove he can succeed outside of Seattle and continue his legacy in Denver. However, even if he flops, he will still be a very rich man for the rest of his life.