Russell Wilson was hand-picked by Mike Tomlin to be the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback last year.
So much so, that he went as far as to bench Justin Fields despite a winning record, inserting Russell Wilson after two calf injuries.
Needless to say, while much of the Steelers brass wanted Fields to return, the possibility of Wilson coming back always hinged on Mike Tomlin.
That bridge may have also been burned...
Mike Tomlin no longer has same relationship with Russell Wilson
"Russell Wilson is still in play for the Giants, even though they signed Jameis [Winston]," NFL on Fox insider Jordan Schultz told the Herd with Colin Cowherd. "But, as it's been made clear to me, he does not have the same type of relationship he had with Mike Tomlin going back a year ago."
Things went south very fast for Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh. After leading the team to six wins in seven weeks and averaging over 30 points a game, it looked like he had revitalized his career, and Mike Tomlin made the best decision of his coaching tenure as the Steelers were 10-3 and in play for the first overall seed in the AFC.
But then it all came crashing down. A three-week stretch against Super Bowl-contending opponents catalyzed a five-game losing streak to close the season and a splintering of the relationship between Russell Wilson and OC Arthur Smith.
The fact that Russ and Smith couldn't stand each other by the end of the season never boded well for Wilson's return to the Steelers. But Mike Tomlin is the shot caller in Pittsburgh. It became clear that he and Art Rooney were still considering Wilson in the weeks after the season.
So what changed that Tomlin, the man who recruited Russ, who was left standing in his corner as his OC and front office wanted Justin Fields, said, 'No I'm good.'
Of course if the Rodgers situation doesn't pan out, there is still a world where Russ is back in black.
But as many have stated, that would be shocking at this point. Add in the fact that Russ has visited the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, and it's clear all parties are looking at other options.
Things sure do change rapidly in the National Football League.
