With Russell Wilson’s former backup in the fold, the New York Jets may not have any need for the genuine article after all.
New York already signed quarterback Geno Smith, a former Jets starter who went on to back up Wilson for several seasons in Seattle.
Still, second-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn appeared to have some interest in Wilson as well after welcoming the free agent for a visit at the team facility in Florham Park, New Jersey last month.
But since hosting Wilson, Glenn now appears to be moving on to other backup options for Smith.
‘We’re always going to go through a process on how we can improve the team and sometimes when you do that, I think it becomes a bigger issue than what it really is,’ Glenn told reporters at the Jets rookie minicamp this week when asked about potentially signing Wilson.
‘We’re talking to a number of veteran quarterbacks, but I will say this here in saying that: I’m happy with our quarterback room.’
Wilson, 37, is a free agent after a difficult 2025 campaign with the New York Giants
Russell Wilson and wife Ciara attend the 2026 Outstanding Mother Awards on May 7
In addition to Smith, who had a disappointing season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, the Jets have rookie fourth-round pick Cable Klubnik.
The 22-year-old Clemson product went 26-14 as a starter with the Tigers while winning ACC Championship Game MVP honors in 2022 and 2024.
Wilson, now 37, began last season as the New York Giants’ starter before being demoted in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart.
He does have options outside of football, with CBS Sports eyeing Wilson for an analyst position. But as a source told The Daily Mail earlier this week, Wilson’s future in the NFL isn’t completely reliant on the Jets. He could entertain other offers to stay in the league, even as he considers becoming a CBS analyst.
And even if Wilson is unsigned at the start of training camp, the source stressed he could still opt to return, depending on the opportunities available to him during the season.
‘He is currently leaning toward doing TV but not fully retiring and seeing how the season pans out with injuries,’ the source told The Daily Mail.
Second-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is apparently not interested in adding Wilson
‘He would highly consider joining a team later in the season that is making a playoff push. He feels that TV is his future and if he gets a contract that is too good to refuse, then he will do that immediately and monitor the game from the studio.’
‘But he could have a clause in his contract that he could sign with a team if needed.’
The source close to Wilson says that he doesn’t want that to be the final chapter of his career if he can avoid it.
‘He is eager not to retire and have one final moment, but he is OK taking a year off and trying TV,’ the source continued.
‘He’s going the route of having his cake and eating it too.’
The Jets finished with a miserable 3-14 record for the 2025 campaign but head into 2026 buoyed by the addition of three first-round draft picks: Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey, Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr.
