The Denver Broncos released former Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson Monday afternoon.
The move is unprecedented after the franchise traded a king’s ransom for Wilson before the 2022 season, and now must absorb a cap hit of more than $80 million.
Related: Pre-spring bold predictions for the 2024 Big Ten football season
The former Badger went 11-19 in two years in Denver, throwing for a combined 6594 yards and 42 touchdowns, while adding 618 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
He now hits the open market after playing on a near-Hall-of-Fame trajectory with the Seattle Seahawks, appearing in two Super Bowls and winning one. The years in Denver saw a regression in play, but there’s a chance his MVP candidate form could return in the right location.
NFL pundits and Broncos fans alike were amazed by the news, and especially by his gigantic cap hit. Here is how social media reacted to Wilson’s release: