Nearly every month it feels like there's a new "bombshell report" about Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson.

Thanks to The Athletic, we received another one on Friday.

The Athletic's Kalyn Kahler, Mike Sando, and Jayson Jenks collaborated on a massive story that details the dysfunction that Wilson and the Broncos experienced in 2022.

It also details how Wilson allegedly tried to get his former coach, Pete Carroll, fired in Seattle.

Before we dive into the report, here is what Wilson had to say on Friday morning in response:

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.

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) February 24, 2023

Russell Wilson tried to get Pete Carroll fired when both were with the Seattle Seahawks

According to The Athletic, Wilson angled to get Carroll and general manager John Schneider fired before he was traded from the Seahawks to the Broncos.

And he wanted Sean Payton to be Carroll's replacement in Seattle.

That report is wild just on its own. A star player trying to make a power move to get a Super Bowl-winning head coach fired is a rare occurrence.

What makes it really wild, though, is that Wilson spent a year with the Broncos playing for a head coach in Nathaniel Hackett that he didn't get along with. And after less than one season, Hackett was fired and replaced by Payton. Make your own conclusions on that one.

Russell Wilson alienated Broncos players by blurring the line between player and coach

Russell Wilson is the Broncos' starting quarterback. He's a player.

That's not a sentence that should need to be written, but in Wilson's case, it's necessary.

That's because Wilson alienated some Denver players and coaches last season with his personal office (which was on the same level as front office personnel, somewhere that players don't often go) and his "open door policy".

The "open-door policy" led to a hell of a quote from an anonymous coach.

From The Athletic:

“The players were always on the first floor; they never really came up to the second floor,” one coach said. “If you came up to the second floor as a player, it honestly wasn’t a good thing because you were probably getting released.”

One offensive player said Wilson told teammates he had an “open-door policy” with his office, which to another coach seemed problematic. “So, are you a coach or are you a player?” the coach asked. “Your open door should be you sitting at your locker.”

Wilson might as well have been a player-coach for the Broncos last season because he was allowed to add plays and concepts to the game plan. He was essentially another offensive coach — which obviously led to some frustration.

According to The Athletic, Denver's no-huddle package was completely taken from Wilson's time in Seattle. So instead of the Broncos coaches installing their system last season, it was a blend between Hackett's and Wilson's offensive philosophy.

It's understandable why the offense struggled — there was no consistency in game planning and offensive installs.

Unsurprisingly, this also led to some frustration from Denver's players and coaches.

“He had too much influence,” said one coach to The Athletic. “And it was mainly based on what Hackett allowed him to influence.”

Something else that led to controversy last season was Wilson's Tuesday meetings with the team. His personal quarterbacks coach Jake Heaps would help lead the awkward meetings that would take place on a day that players were supposed to be off.

From The Athletic:

One coach reviewed some of the scouting reports Wilson and Heaps handed out on Tuesdays. The reports were thorough, the coach said, but there were instances when he didn’t agree with their evaluations. Another coach said Heaps’ presence during the season created “a conflict of influence.” Who did Wilson listen to? Heaps? Hackett? Quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak?

“Too many cooks,” the coach said.

I think even the most die-hard Broncos supporter can see why Denver struggled last season. Wilson having more influence than likely any other quarterback in the NFL just isn't the best recipe for success in the NFL. In fact, it's a recipe for disaster. Which is what happened in Denver last season.

Things will be changing with Payton in charge. Gone is Wilson's office and personal quarterbacks coach. Instead, Payton will run the Broncos just like he ran the New Orleans Saints. And if Wilson trusts him, success will follow.

But how easy will be for Wilson to give up his influence and just focus on playing football?

I guess we'll all find out at the same time this fall.

Featured image via Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports