Russell Wilson may not have to move for his next job.
The Jets had the veteran quarterback in for a visit on Monday night, according to a source. No signing was imminent as of Tuesday afternoon. Wilson spent last season with the Giants, starting three games for Big Blue.
The Jets have Geno Smith as their starting quarterback but they are still interested in adding a veteran backup. Currently, the only other quarterbacks on the roster are Bailey Zappe, Brady Cook and Cade Klubnik, whom the team drafted in the fourth round on Saturday.
Wilson, 37, has history with Smith and that could make him appealing for the Jets. The two played together in Seattle in 2020 and ’21. When the Jets acquired Smith in March from the Raiders, they asked him about potential veteran backups and he said that he respected and admired Wilson from their time together.
The Jets had conversations with Wilson but neither side was in a hurry and they decided to wait until after the NFL draft ended to have further dialogue. Since Wilson lives locally, a visit was easy to set up and Wilson met with the Jets brass on Monday night in Florham Park.
Wilson is a 10-time Pro Bowler and led the Seahawks to the Super Bowl title in 2013. He has bounced around over the last four years after leaving Seattle. He spent two years with the Broncos in 2022-23. Jets general manager Darren Mougey was the assistant general manager in Denver during Wilson’s two years there. Wilson then went to the Steelers in 2024 before playing for the Giants last season.
Wilson started the first three games of the season for the Giants before being replaced by rookie Jaxson Dart. He appeared briefly in three more games. He completed 69 of 119 passes for 831 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions during his year with the Giants.
The Jets don’t need the vintage Wilson of his Seahawks days but he would make some sense for them as a backup quarterback because of his experience and relationship with Smith. Tyrod Taylor, who was the Jets’ backup the last two years, remains a free agent but the Jets seem interested in other options.