Broncos’ Russell Wilson hopes to stay in Denver despite being benched: “I hope that it’s here for a long time”

Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is unsure what the future holds for him after getting benched this week. But he told reporters on Friday afternoon that he hopes he remains in the Mile High City.

“I hope that it’s here for a long time. I hope to win more (trophies) in the front hall (at Centura Health Training Center) and get some more championships. If it’s not here, then I’m prepared to do that somewhere else,” Wilson said. “But I hope that it’s here, and I genuinely mean that. … I brought my family here.”

Wilson said he was surprised and disappointed about head coach Sean Payton’s decision to move forward with Jarrett Stidham as the starting quarterback for the final two games.

He believed the team had something special going, even after losing two in a row to drop to 7-8.

“We had some tough games, but we still got a chance,” he added. “But at the end of the day, I’m going to keep putting my best foot forward every day and being professional.”

Wilson also told reporters on Friday that the team approached him during the Broncos’ bye week, telling him that if he didn’t alter his contract guarantee for 2025, he’d be benched for the team’s final nine games.

Payton reiterated that the decision to bench Wilson was strictly about giving the team the best chance to secure its eighth win on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. He also reaffirmed that Wilson is the No. 2 quarterback and will be active.

Earlier in the season, Payton mentioned that he and general manager George Paton had a vision for the team this year and in 2024. On Friday, he said the team hasn’t decided what’s next for Wilson and the rest of the roster.

“We haven’t sat down and met. What I’m used to doing, and what we’ll do when the season ends, is there will be five to six days of being away from it,” Payton said. “Then we will do this whole process with the roster and go through every player.”