Pittsburgh Steelers Russell Wilson tries to evade Dallas Cowboys' KaVontae Turpin during the NFL Pro Bowl Game on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 in Orlando. (Peter Joneleit/AP Images for the NFL)

The Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — Russell Wilson strolled into Camping World Stadium on Saturday and immediately started looking for his son. He spotted him on the opposite sideline and made a beeline across the field. Wilson didn’t want to do anything without Future Wilson by his side.

After all, Wilson realizes his 10th Pro Bowl might be his last.

The 36-year-old quarterback, who was added to the Pro Bowl Games as an alternate when Buffalo’s Josh Allen pulled out this week, is a pending free agent after spending one year in Pittsburgh.

“I’m looking forward to hopefully going back to the Steelers and we’ll see what happens with the rest,” Wilson told The Associated Press. “I love it in Pittsburgh.”

The Steelers might have other ideas.

Team president Art Rooney II indicated Monday that he would like to keep Wilson or Justin Fields on a multiyear deal. Rooney didn’t specify which one, but he said age could play a factor in the decision.

Fields, who went 4-2 while filling in for an injured Wilson early in the season, turns 25 next month. Wilson had made three Pro Bowls before Fields even became a star at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.

“I’ve been fortunate to play 13-plus years, and I’ve got a lot more ball left in me,” Wilson said. “I think staying healthy is always the thing. You’ve got to be healthy to play your best, and I feel great right now.”

Wilson sidestepped several questions about potentially reuniting with former Seattle coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas. The Raiders hired the 73-year-old Carroll last month, and speculation quickly followed that Wilson might join him in Vegas.

“Pete’s going to be a great coach, obviously,” Wilson said. “He’s great at what he does. But I’m focused on the Steelers.”

Wilson started the final 11 games of the 2024 season after returning from a calf injury he suffered at the start of training camp. He completed 63.7% of his passes for 2,482 yards, with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 155 yards and two scores.

Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said it “would be huge” to keep Wilson in 2025 before adding Fields to his response.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but those quarterbacks know what they’re doing,” Heyward said. “I just hope we find a solution and a recipe for us to continue to win.”

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers smiled when asked about the notion of playing with Wilson but stopped short of stumping for an upgrade over Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew. He said he did pepper Wilson with questions about Carroll.

“He said he’s great, he’s awesome and he brings a lot of energy to practices,” Bowers said. “Coach Carroll has won a lot and has a lot of football knowledge, so I’m excited to see what happens.”

No one really knows what’s next for Wilson, who raved about the Steelers.

“Mike Tomlin is special,” Wilson said. “He’s an amazing individual. He’s one of the greatest of all time.”

NFC tops AFC

ORLANDO, Fla. — With Olympic flag football three years away, this much is becoming clear: the U.S. team should want a former LSU receiver on its roster.

The four ex-Tigers competing in the Pro Bowl Games scored a combined eight touchdowns in a flag football contest that capped the NFC’s third consecutive victory over the AFC, 76-63 on Sunday.

Rookie Malik Nabers of the New York Giants found the end zone twice for the NFC, and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson also scored. Jefferson caught six passes for 46 yards. Nabers finished with five receptions for 62 yards.

“We’re on top for sure,” Jefferson said. “It is definitely great to see the guys having fun out here, scoring touchdowns, just making big plays. That’s what we normally do, so it’s good to see us coming out here and doing the same thing.”

The NFC essentially sealed the win by returning two interceptions for touchdowns in the second half, giving coach Eli Manning a third consecutive win over big brother and AFC coach Peyton. Arizona’s Budda Baker and Minnesota’s Byron Murphy delivered the big defensive plays in a made-for-TV event designed to showcase offense.

Teams arrive

NEW ORLEANS — The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have landed in New Orleans for Super Bowl week.

They exited their planes to sunshine and temperatures in the 60s on Sunday afternoon, a week before their matchup on Feb. 9.

Players and staff made their way down moveable staircases from their planes to buses awaiting them on the tarmac without much fanfare. Then they quickly rolled off in convoys bound for for their downtown hotels. Most Eagles players and staff wore black sweatsuits with a “Super Bowl LIX” logo across the chest. Chiefs coach Andy Reid wore a blue suit with a red tie.

Raiders hire Kelly

Chip Kelly is returning to the NFL as the Las Vegas Raiders’ offensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Kelly was the offensive coordinator on Ohio State’s national championship team this past season.