Even before the Denver Broncos officially parted ways with veteran quarterback Russell Wilson last offseason, stories linked him to the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders. However, he eventually signed a team-friendly contract to join the Pittsburgh Steelers and has since largely resembled his former great self with the AFC North club.

For a long time “NFL on ESPN” In an interview published Thursday, Wilson explained how a conversation with Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Omar Khan helped the 35-year-old choose his current team.

“When I was released… several teams started calling and everything,” Wilson said, as Sports Illustrated reported. Madison Williams common. “And then suddenlymy first call was with Mike Tomlin and Omar. Coach Tomlin and I, We I have the same vision for the ball, the love of the game, the passion and obsession behind it.”

He was reported in March, Tomlin and well-respected Steelers veteran defensive lineman Cameron Heyward were “big advocates” of Wilson’s arrival in free agency. Heyward revealed later he warned Wilson that Pittsburgh “is not the place for glitz and glamor” but rather “the place where the gladiators come.”

During the conversation with ESPN’s Hannah Storm, Wilson mentioned that he also spoke with Steelers star passer TJ Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick about what life would be like calling Steel City, his professional football home.

“Minkah, he doesn’t talk long, but he says, ‘Hey, do you like to compete?’ And that’s all things I love training and the ball and taking care of it,” Wilson added. “I watched (my wife Ciara) and I it was like, ‘I know where we’re going.’ It was great. And it’s been great ever since.”

Wilson spent the first six weeks of the campaign recovering from a nagging calf injury while Justin Fields guided the Steelers to a 4-2 record. The former Super Bowl champion then won his first three starts with the organization and has seemingly established himself as Pittsburgh’s QB1 until further notice.

Wilson completed 50 of 85 pass attempts (58.8%) for 737 yards with six touchdowns and an interception to go along with a rushing score in those three games.

The 7-2 Steelers will next host their rivals Baltimore Ravens (7-3) this Sunday. From Friday morning, DraftKings Sports Betting ranked Pittsburgh as a three-point underdog for this competition.