Is Russell Wilson Still Getting Paid By The Broncos

You know that feeling when you break up with someone, but you’re still paying for their Netflix subscription? That’s basically the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson right now. Yes, the Broncos are still cutting him a check, even though he’s been over in Pittsburgh throwing wobblies for the Steelers since 2024. It’s the NFL’s version of that awkward “we’re on a break” phase, but with millions of dollars instead of a shared streaming password.

Here’s the hilarious truth: Denver is paying Russell Wilson $37 million in 2025, even while he plays for another team. That’s more than some entire NFL rosters make in a season. Imagine telling your boss, “Hey, I know I quit, but can you keep direct depositing my salary into my account? Cool, thanks.” It’s absurd, and it’s happening because of a monster contract that went terribly wrong, like ordering a five-course meal and getting food poisoning after the appetizer.

The ‘Dead Money’ That Keeps on Giving

In NFL terms, this is called “dead money.” It’s the bill you pay for a mistake you already made, like buying that expensive gym equipment you now use as a clothes rack. For the Broncos, Russell Wilson’s dead money hit is the largest in NFL history, totaling $85 million spread over two years. That’s not just a bad breakup; that’s paying alimony to a guy who moved to a different city and is dating your rival.

Think of it this way: you and your friend split the cost of a pizza. You eat two slices, he eats the rest, then he moves away. But you still owe the pizza shop. That’s Denver right now. They traded for Wilson in 2022, gave him a $245 million extension, then benched him after two disappointing seasons. The pizza was cold, burnt, and overpriced, but the bill keeps coming.

The Yearly Reminder

Every single day, someone in the Broncos front office probably sighs when they see Wilson’s name on the payroll. They’re not just paying him to play for the Steelers; they’re paying him while he practices in Pittsburgh, wins games for them, and even makes the playoffs. Last season, Denver paid Wilson $38 million to beat the Jets, then lost to the Patriots. It’s like paying your ex to take your car out for a joyride while you take the bus.

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The funny part? Wilson gets a $1.21 million base salary from the Steelers this year. That’s pocket change compared to the Broncos’ money. So while he’s cashing tiny checks from Pittsburgh, Denver is essentially his sugar daddy, funding his lifestyle from 1,600 miles away. It’s the transactional version of a long-distance relationship that nobody signed up for.

How Did We Get Here?

Let’s rewind to 2022, when Broncos fans were dancing in the streets. They traded five draft picks and three players for Russell Wilson, thinking they’d won the Super Bowl. Instead, they got a quarterback who forgot how to throw deep, talked about “Bronco DNA” like a corporate retreat slogan, and famously refused to take off his helmet during a sideline meltdown. It was like buying a Porsche only to find out it runs on broccoli.

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Then came the 2023 season, where Wilson played okay but the team was a dumpster fire. The new coach, Sean Payton, didn’t even want him. So they cut him, but not before guaranteeing him $39 million for 2024. That’s the part where you pay for the pizza you didn’t eat. By the time the 2024 season ended, Denver had officially paid Wilson more in dead money than some franchises spend on their entire roster.

But Wait, There’s More (Bad News)

The Broncos will finally be free of Wilson’s cap hit after the 2025 season. That’s like finishing a loan on a car that you crashed on the test drive. By then, they will have paid him roughly $124 million for 30 games, 11 wins, and a lot of cringe-worthy press conferences. For comparison, the most expensive movie ever made, “Avengers: Endgame,” cost $356 million. Russell Wilson got almost half that for throwing interceptions and smiling awkwardly.

Denver Broncos' Russell Wilson got paid

Meanwhile, the Steelers are laughing all the way to the bank. They signed Wilson for the veteran minimum, $1.2 million, and he’s giving them solid quarterback play. It’s like getting a luxury handbag at a garage sale because someone else paid full price for it and left it in the rain. The Broncos are the ones who bought the handbag, left it in the rain, and are still making payments.

The Everyday Life Lesson

If you’ve ever kept paying for a gym membership you never use, or kept the Wi-Fi on for a roommate who moved out, you understand the Broncos. Dead money is just life’s tuition for bad decisions. It’s the cost of thinking, “This time it’ll be different,” only to find out it’s exactly the same.

So yes, Russell Wilson is still getting paid by the Broncos. He’ll cash that last check in early 2026, probably while sipping lemonade on a beach, thinking about how he once went to the playoffs without throwing a touchdown. And Denver? They’ll finally move on, vowing to never make such a dumb mistake again—until next time. Because in the NFL, as in life, we always pay for our exes’ Netflix long after the breakup.