24 February 2023 , 16:20
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Russell Wilson has emphatically stated that he did not ask for the Seattle Seahawks to fire both head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider.
It comes after a report in The Athletic reported that a league source told them that Wilson had asked for them to be removed from their posts after a frustrating season in Seattle, following talk of Wilson being unsettled for years.
The previous year before this, it has emerged that Wilson was not looking to be moved, but would accept a trade to one of four teams; the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears. But no move materialised as he'd remain in Seattle for a final year before a trade would eventually go through.
Wilson asked for a trade and was granted it when the Denver Broncos made a move for him, sending a huge draft haul to acquire him as he finally got his wish to work alongside an offensive head coach in Nathaniel Hackett.
But that only came after Wilson was said to have asked the Seahawks to bring in a new head coach themselves, The Athletic reported, as well as a new general manager - something Seahawks ownership were not willing to do.
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After the report came out, Wilson was quick to respond. He tweeted: "I love Pete and he was a father figure to me and John believed in me and drafted me as well. I never wanted them fired. All any of us wanted was to win. l’ll always have respect for them and love for Seattle."
The Athletic have since responded, reporting what a league source told them. The article stated that: "Wilson was convinced that Carroll and Schneider were inhibiting his quest to win additional Super Bowls and individual awards, according to league sources who spoke to The Athletic.
Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson after the two met on the season opener as opponents (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)"The quarterback had a preferred replacement in mind: Sean Payton, who had recently stepped down from the New Orleans Saitns Saints.
"Wilson placed his request to fire the coach and GM in February 2022. Within days of his call, top team officials met and decided to pursue trading the nine-time Pro Bowler, per sources."
Wilson was taken in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft, after slipping to a day two pick as teams were concerned due to his lack of height. He remained in Seattle for 10 years, winning a Super Bowl in his second season and losing in another the following year in devastating fashion.
Since then though, it has been tough for the Seahawks - a team who have been good enough to make it to the playoffs but have struggle to truly compete for a championship, much to the frustration of all involved with the team.
Wilson is now with Payton at the Denver Broncos after the team traded further draft picks to acquire him.
In his first game as a Bronco, Wilson lost to the Seahawks with coach Carroll being noticeably more pleased than usual about the win stating that "it meant a lot".