A popular offseason topic for fans of the Washington Commanders has been the idea that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson could force a trade and pick Washington as his next destination.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Wilson has played his entire 10-year career with the Seattle Seahawks on the West coast. Last season, Wilson’s agent said he would approve trades to four teams, and Washington was not on that list.
A lot can change in one year, and head coach Ron Rivera believes the Commanders are a desirable destination for one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. As for Wilson’s previous list, three of the four teams he’d approve a trade to either have a standout passer or, in Chicago’s case, drafted one in the first round last year.
While Wilson has given no indication he’s unhappy in Seattle; his future has been a fun topic this offseason for many quarterback-needy teams. Washington, of course, being the primary one due to Rivera’s persistence, the team will swing for the fences to land a franchise passer.
In an appearance on the NBC’s TODAY Show Tuesday, host Craig Melvin — a noted Washington supporter and official fan ambassador — directly asked Wilson about “coming east” and playing for the team in the nation’s capital.
Wilson and his wife Ciara laughed at the question, knowing it was coming once Melvin identified himself as a Commanders’ fan. Wilson’s response:
“Listen, man, I love the East Coast, but I think the West Coast is better for me right now,” Wilson said, laughing. “I got my whole family over here. I’m from Richmond; I know what you mean; I got people hitting me up every day. All my friends, from the East Coast, but Seattle is the place that I’m at right now, and I love it, and it’s great.”
Russell Wilson asked by @craigmelvin about coming to Washington: “I’m from Richmond, I know what you mean, I got people hitting me up every day, all my friends and all that from the East Coast but Seattle’s the place I’m at right now and I love it.” Video from @TODAYshow pic.twitter.com/VmqQdXbHfI
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 1, 2022
What is he supposed to say? If he wanted to be traded, he is under contract for two more seasons and too classy of a guy to campaign publicly about wanting a trade. His laugh implied as much. Wilson handled the question with humor and class.
Some have written stories today saying Wilson definitively said he wasn’t coming to Washington. He did not. He answered the question perfectly. Now, does that mean he wants to go to Washington? Of course not. But for some to surmise that he ruled out the Commanders for jokingly answering a question from a Washington fan at the end of an interview is a bit silly.
It’s the offseason, folks.