Steelers' Russell Wilson could break two unfortunate NFL records in 2024 after securing the job as starting quarterback

Russell is on the verge of making NFL history, but probably not the kind of history he hopes for. Now that he named starting quarterback of the SteelersWilson could break two very unfortunate records this year.

The first record is for most sacks. This record is currently held by Tom Brady, who was sacked 565 times over the course of his 23-year career. Wilson was sacked much more often, so he could actually surpass Brady's record despite playing 10 fewer years. Wilson is entering his 13th season and has been sacked an average of 43.9 times per season over his first 12 years.

If Wilson reaches that average in 2024, he would have 570.9 sacks, surpassing not only Brady but also the unofficial record of 570 sacks. According to Pro Football Reference, Fran Tarkenton holds the unofficial record, but it is not the official record because the NFL did not start counting the number of times a quarterback was sacked until 1963 (and did not start counting a sack in a defensive lineman's stats until 1982).

Here's a look at the quarterbacks with the most sacks of all time:

1. Fran Tarkenton* (570 – unofficial)
2. Tom Brady (565)
3. Ben Roethlisberger (554)
4. Aaron Rodgers (531)
5. Russell Wilson (527)

Rodgers could also break the record, which we will cover in another article before the start of the 2024 season.

So what is the other unfortunate record that Wilson could break?

The Super Bowl winner could also become the first quarterback in NFL history to lose to 31 different teams. Currently, Wilson has lost to 29 different teams, but that number could rise to 31 next season. No quarterback in NFL history has ever lost to 31 different teams (ten quarterbacks have lost to 30 different teams, but no one has ever reached 31).

Wilson has never lost to the Browns or Eagles, and Pittsburgh will face both teams this year. The Steelers will face the Browns in Week 12 and Week 14 before facing the Eagles in Week 15, so Wilson could set a winning record before Christmas.

The good news for Wilson is that this record could actually be beaten by someone. Derek Carr has lost against 30 different teams in his career, and he could reach 31 in September. The only two teams Carr has never lost to are the Raiders and Panthers, and New Orleans will face both teams this season. The Saints will actually face Carolina in their season opener, so Carr could reach 31 teams in Week 1. If he wins that, Carr will have to face the Panthers again in Week 9, so even if New Orleans wins the opener, he could still break the record in the second meeting with Carolina.

If the Saints beat the Panthers, Wilson could become the first NFL quarterback to lose to 31 different teams. Joe Flacco is the only other active quarterback to lose to at least 30 teams, and he's now a backup in Indianapolis, so it's unlikely he'll reach 31 losses. However, the Colts face a team Flacco has never lost to (the Lions), so if he's Indy's starting quarterback by the Week 12 game, he could become the first quarterback to lose to 31 teams.

Of course, Wilson could lose his starting spot to Justin Fields during the season, and if that happens, he won't have to worry about breaking any of those records.

Because of his difficulties in recent years, many people now doubt Wilson, but that is not his motivation.

“I never had the courage to keep going,” Wilson said of PFT on whether doubts drive him. “I never – I don't know why – worried about what other people think. I think ultimately, like I told you – obviously my faith means everything to me. God chose me to do this and he chose me to play this game. I'm one of 32 men in the world who get to do what I do, get to play this game every day.”

Wilson’s first game with the Steelers will be in Week 1 against the Falcons.