Wilson holds the record for most wins by an NFL quarterback through nine seasons and is one of five quarterbacks with acareer passer rating over 99.[3] In 2019, he signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension with the Seahawks, becoming the highest-paid NFL player at the time. In 2020, he became the third quarterback in NFL history to throw 30 touchdowns in four consecutive seasons.[4] Wilson was traded to the Broncos in 2022 and later signed a five-year, $245 million extension. His time with the Broncos was marred with disappointment, with the Broncos having the league's worst scoring offense in 2022. Wilson was benched near the end of the 2023 season and was released in the offseason, later signing a one-year deal with thePittsburgh Steelers where he earned his tenth Pro Bowl selection and made his ninth playoff berth. He later signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants.
Wilson was born atThe Christ Hospital inCincinnati,[5] and grew up inRichmond, Virginia. His parents are Harrison Benjamin Wilson III, a lawyer, and Tammy Wilson (née Turner), a nurse director.[6][7][8][9] He has an older brother, Harrison IV, and a younger sister,Anna.[10] Wilson started playing football with his father and brother at the age of four, and played his first organized game for the Tuckahoe Tomahawks youth football team in sixth grade.[7][11]
Wilson's father died of complications fromdiabetes on June 9, 2010, at age 55,[25] the day after Wilson was drafted by theRockies.[30]
High school career
Wilson attendedCollegiate School, apreparatory school in Richmond, Virginia.[31] As a junior in 2005, he threw for 3,287 passing yards and 40 passingtouchdowns andrushed for 634 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.[32][33] He was named an all-district, all-region, and all-state player. Wilson was twice named theRichmond Times-Dispatch Player of the Year.[34]
As a senior, he threw for 3,009 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, and seveninterceptions. In addition, he rushed for 1,132 yards and 18 touchdowns.[35] That year, he was named an all-conference and all-state player as well as conference player of the year. He was featured inSports Illustrated for his performance in the state championship game win. Wilson also served as his senior class president.[36]
During his time in high school, Wilson attended theManning Passing Academy, a summer football clinic run by multiple NFL MVP winner and eventual Hall of Fame quarterbackPeyton Manning. Due to this encounter, Manning recognized Wilson many years later when the latter had flown to Denver to discuss the prospect of getting drafted by theDenver Broncos, where Manning had recently signed.[37]
Wilson was also a member of the Collegiate School basketball and baseball teams.[38]
Wilsonredshirted during the 2007 season atNC State.[41] In2008, Wilson initially split time at quarterback with senior Daniel Evans and junior Harrison Beck.[42] However, Evans and Beck saw no regular season action after Week 2 and Week 5, respectively. Thereafter, Wilson led the team to a 4–3 record inthe regular season which NC State finished out on a four-game winning streak.[43] During a 30–24 win overEast Carolina, Wilson threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns.[44] He threw for two touchdowns in each of the last six games in the regular season.[45]
In the2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl againstRutgers, Wilson threw for 186 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 46 yards before halftime. Late in the first half, hescrambled to the Rutgers' four-yard line, where he was tackled and suffered a knee sprain. With Wilson sitting out the remainder of the game, his replacements threw a combined total of three interceptions with NC State, eventually losing 29–23.[46][42] Over the course of the season, he completed 150 of 275 attempts for 1,955 yards and 17 touchdowns with just one interception. He also recorded 116 carries for 394 yards and four touchdowns.[45] TheAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) named him the first-team All-ACC quarterback. It was the first time in conference history that a freshman quarterback was named to the first team.[47]
Prior to the2009 season, Wilson was named quarterback of the pre-season all-ACC football team on July 12.[48] On September 19, Wilson brokeAndre Woodson's all-time NCAA record of 325 consecutive pass attempts without an interception againstGardner–Webb.[49] The 379-pass streak ended in a game againstWake Forest on October 3.[50] On October 31, he passed for 349 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions against Florida State.[51] Wilson held the record until November 10, 2012, when it was broken byLouisiana Tech quarterbackColby Cameron.[52] Wilson was named honorable mention All-ACC in 2009.[35] Wilson finished the 2009 regular season with 3,027 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions as the team finished with a 5–7 record.[53][54]
Wilson led the2010 Wolfpack to a 9–4 season that included a 23–7 win overWest Virginia in the2010 Champs Sports Bowl.[55][56] He led the ACC in passing yards per game (274.1) and total offensive yards per game (307.5).[57] He was named second-team All-ACC and runner-up for ACC Football Player of the Year.[35] In May 2010, Wilson graduated from NC State in three years with a BA in communication, and took graduate-level business courses in the fall semester during the 2010 football season.[58][59][60][61][62]
Transfer
In January 2011, Wilson announced that he would report tospring training with theColorado Rockies organization.[63] NC State head coachTom O'Brien expressed reservations with Wilson's decision, saying "Russell and I have had very open conversations about his responsibilities respective to baseball and football. While I am certainly respectful of Russell's dedication to baseball these last several years, within those discussions I also communicated to him the importance of his time commitment to NC State football."[64]
O'Brien and his staff reached out to NFL coaches and general managers on Wilson's behalf, but he failed to receive an invitation to the 2011NFL Scouting Combine.[65]
On April 29, 2011, O'Brien announced that Wilson was granted a release from his football scholarship with one year of eligibility left.[66]
On June 27, 2011,Wisconsin head coachBret Bielema said that Wilson committed to Wisconsin for the2011 season.[67] In the season opener againstUNLV, Wilson passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns in a 51–17 victory. He also rushed for 62 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown run.[68] In the next three games, Wilson threw for three passing touchdowns in each game, victories overOregon State,Northern Illinois, andSouth Dakota.[69][70][71] Following a 48–17 victory over previously undefeated #8Nebraska, Wilson recorded a receiving touchdown in the 59–7 victory overIndiana.[72][73] Wilson helped lead the Badgers to a 6–0 start and a #4 ranking in the AP Poll.[74] The Badgers dropped their next two games, road losses toMichigan State andOhio State.[75][76] Wilson and the Badgers reeled off four consecutive wins to end the regular season. Wilson was efficient during the winning streak, passing for nine touchdowns to no interceptions while rushing for two touchdowns.[77] At the end of the regular season, Wilson was named first teamAll-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. He also won theGriese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year award.[78]
In the inauguralBig Ten Championship Game on December 3, Wilson threw for three touchdowns and led the Badgers to a 42–39 win over the Michigan State Spartans. Wilson was named the game's Grange-Griffin MVP.[79] In December 2011, Wilson was named a third team All-American byYahoo! Sports, and finished ninth inHeisman Trophy voting with 52 points.[80][81]
In the2012 Rose Bowl against theOregon Ducks on January 2, 2012, Wilson had 19 pass completions on 25 attempts for 296 yards, 18 rushing yards, and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) as the Badgers lost by a score of 45–38.[82] Wilson finished the season with 33 passing touchdowns, which set the single season record at Wisconsin and was the second-most in Big Ten history behindDrew Brees during the 1998 season atPurdue (39).[83] Wilson also set the single seasonFBS record forpassing efficiency (191.8).[84] On January 28, 2012, Wilson completed his college football career at the2012 Senior Bowl.[85]
After transferring to the University of Wisconsin, Wilson earned a master's degree in educational leadership and policy analysis.[86]
On January 16, 2012, Wilson began training for theNFL Scouting Combine atIMG Academy inBradenton, Florida.[87][88] Prior to the2012 NFL draft, Wilson had been projected by NFL scouts and analysts to be a middle-round pick.[89] In February 2012, former NFL quarterback and director of the IMG Madden Football AcademyChris Weinke said of Wilson, "If he was 6–5, he'd probably be the No. 1 pick in the draft."[87] On April 11, 2012,ESPNMonday Night Football analystJon Gruden said, "The only issue with Russell Wilson is his height. That might be the reason he's not picked in the first couple rounds."[90]
Wilson was selected by theSeattle Seahawks in the third round (75th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft,[94] the sixth quarterback selected.[95] The Seahawks received significant criticism for their selections in the draft, and Wilson in particular, as they had just signed free agentMatt Flynn.[96] Two weeks later, Wilson signed a four-year, $2.99 million contract with the Seahawks on May 7, 2012.[97]
Wilson made his preseason debut against theTennessee Titans on August 11, 2012, and had his first preseason start on August 24 against theKansas City Chiefs.[98][99] Two days later on August 26, 2012, Wilson was named the starting quarterback for the first regular season game after competing with Matt Flynn andTarvaris Jackson for the position.[100]
On September 9, 2012, Wilson made his regular season debut in a 20–16 road loss to theArizona Cardinals. He had 18 completions on 34 passing attempts for 153 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.[101] In thethird regular season game onMonday night, the Seahawks won 14–12 over theGreen Bay Packers on a controversialHail Mary touchdown pass toGolden Tate.[102] The contentious nature of the replacement officials' decision on the play was widely considered to have been the tipping point that led to an agreement being reached to end thereferee lockout.[103][104]
Wilson earnedRookie of the Week honors for his performance in a 28–7 victory over theNew York Jets on November 11; he completed 12 of 19 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 34 yards on seven attempts.[105] He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week andFedEx Player of the Week for his performance in a 23–17 road win over theChicago Bears in overtime on December 2.[106] In a 50–17 victory over theBuffalo Bills inToronto on December 16, Wilson had 205 passing yards, one passing touchdown, nine rushes, 92 rushing yards, and a career-high three rushing touchdowns.[107] He was the first player in NFL history to rush for three touchdowns and throw a touchdown in the first half of a game in the game against Buffalo.[108] He earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors for December 2012 after the Seahawks went 5–0 and he had a passer rating of 115.2.[109]
Wilson finished the2012 regular season ranked fourth in the NFL in passer rating (100.0), beating the previous rookie record set byBen Roethlisberger in 2004 (98.1), since broken byRobert Griffin III in 2012 (102.4) andDak Prescott in2016 (104.9).[110] He threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns, tyingPeyton Manning's record for most touchdowns thrown by a rookie,[111] and rushed for 489 yards and four touchdowns. Wilson'sscrambling mobility and ability to extend plays outside the pocket with his legs earned numerous comparisons toHall of Fame quarterbackFran Tarkenton.[112][113][114]
Wilson led the Seahawks to thepostseason in his rookie year, with both games on the road in January. He made his postseason debut in the NFCWild Card Round against theWashington Redskins, passing for 187 yards and rushing for 67 yards as the Seahawks rallied for a 24–14 comeback victory.[115] In theDivisional Round against theAtlanta Falcons, Wilson threw for 385 yards and rushed for 60 yards, and his team had a 28–27 lead with 31 seconds to go, but the Falcons managed to kick the winning field goal.[116]
Wilson was selected as an alternate for the2013 Pro Bowl, filling in forMatt Ryan of Atlanta.[117] At the Pro Bowl inHawaii on January 27, Wilson completed eight of ten passes for 98 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions for a 147.1 rating.[118]
At the end of the season, Wilson earned a bonus of $222,000 through the NFL's Performance-Based Pay program.[119][120] He was ranked 51st by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2013.[121]
Wilson at the 2013 Jessie Vetter Classic on July 1, 2013
The Seahawks began the2013 season with the first 4–0 start in franchise history, before losing to theIndianapolis Colts in Week 5.[122] The Seahawks then went on a 7-game winning streak, including a 41–20 victory over theMinnesota Vikings where he posted a career-high 151.4 passer rating and culminating in a 34–7 victory over theNew Orleans Saints in Week 13 in which Wilson threw three touchdown passes and earned his second NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.[123][124][125] Over the next three weeks, the Seahawks suffered divisional losses to theSan Francisco 49ers andArizona Cardinals (the loss to the Cardinals was Wilson's first home loss), but defeated theSt. Louis Rams in Week 17 to finish the season with a 13–3 record, the NFC West title, and the No. 1 seed in theplayoffs.[126] Wilson finished the season with 26 touchdown passes, nine interceptions, and a 101.2 passer rating, becoming the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to post a 100+ passer rating in each of his first two seasons.[127] Wilson was named to his secondPro Bowl on December 27, 2013.[128]
In theDivisional Round, the Seahawks defeated the New Orleans Saints by a score of 23–15. On January 19, 2014, Wilson and the Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers in theNFC Championship by a score of 23–17, advancing toSuper Bowl XLVIII.[129] Wilson threw for 206 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions for a 123.1 passer rating in a 43–8 win over theDenver Broncos to give the Seahawks their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.[130][131] With the victory, Wilson became just the second black starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl, joiningSuper Bowl XXII winnerDoug Williams.[132] At 5'11", he also became the shortest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, shorter thanLen Dawson,Joe Theismann, andDrew Brees (all 6'0").[133]
Wilson earned a bonus of $169,141.73 for the 2013 season through the NFL's Performance-Based Pay program.[134] He was ranked 20th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2014.[135]
On September 21, 2014, Wilson led the Seahawks on an 80-yard touchdown drive in overtime to defeat theDenver Broncos, 26–20, in a Week 3 rematch of the previous season's Super Bowl.[136][137] On October 6, 2014, against theWashington Redskins, Wilson set a newMonday Night Football record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game with 122.[138] His 122 rushing yards marks a single-game franchise record for a Seahawks quarterback.[139] In Week 6, Wilson became the first player in NFL history to pass for at least 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game in the 28–26 loss to the St. Louis Rams.[140] The Seahawks clinched a playoff spot in Week 16 when theDallas Cowboys defeated theIndianapolis Colts by a score of 42–7, eliminating thePhiladelphia Eagles from postseason contention and allowing the Seahawks to clinch their spot before theirSunday Night Football matchup. On December 21, 2014, Wilson went 20-of-31 and threw for a then-career-high 339 yards with two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown against theArizona Cardinals in a primetime matchup onSunday Night Football.[141] Wilson also led the offense in gaining 596 yards, setting a franchise record for most yards gained in a game. The Cardinals had the third-best scoring defense heading into Week 16. The Seahawks won 35–6 as they snapped the Cardinals' seven-game home winning streak and regained first place in the NFC West as well as the NFC's #1 seed. The Seahawks defeated theSt. Louis Rams 20–6 in Week 17 to clinch the NFC West and the #1 seed for the second consecutive season, securing homefield advantage for the entirety of the NFC playoffs.[142][143]
Wilson led the Seahawks to a 31–17 home win over theCarolina Panthers in theDivisional Round, making the Seahawks the first defending Super Bowl Champion to win a playoff game since the2005 Patriots.[144] The Seahawks hosted theGreen Bay Packers in their second consecutiveNFC Championship. Wilson threw three first-half interceptions while completing only two passes to his own team as the Seahawks fell behind 16–0 at halftime. With the Packers leading 19–7 and five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Wilson threw his fourth interception. Then Wilson led the Seahawks on an improbable comeback. On the Seahawks' next drive, Wilson ran the ball in for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 19–14. After a successful onside kick recovery, Wilson led the Seahawks down the field, and Lynch scored to give the Seahawks a 20–19 lead. Wilson completed a 15-yard, two-point conversion pass to Luke Willson to make it 22–19. The Packers tied it up with a field goal at the end of regulation and forced overtime. The Seahawks won the coin toss, and the offense took the field. Wilson led the Seahawks on an 80-yard drive that was capped by a 35-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Kearse.[145] The Seahawks completed their largest postseason comeback in franchise history and clinched a Super Bowl berth.[146]
Wilson after a postseason game in 2014
Wilson would have been selected as an alternate to the Pro Bowl, but did not play because the Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl; as Wilson did not have a chance to decline the invitation, the NFL recognizes this as a Pro Bowl berth for him.[147]
Wilson became the first quarterback in NFL history to start two Super Bowls in his first three professional seasons.[148] The Seahawks became the first defending champion to return to the Super Bowl since the2004 Patriots.[149] They faced theNew England Patriots inSuper Bowl XLIX, where they were defeated by a final score of 28–24. Although the Seahawks led 24–14 heading into the fourth quarter, the Patriots scored two consecutive touchdowns to take a four-point lead with 2:02 remaining. Wilson led the Seahawks to the Patriots' one-yard line with 25 seconds remaining, but Patriots cornerbackMalcolm Butlerintercepted a pass intended forRicardo Lockette, sealing the victory for the Patriots.[150][151] He was ranked 22nd by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2015.[152]
On July 31, 2015, the Seahawks and Wilson agreed to a four-year, $87.6 million contract extension, making him, at the time, the second-highest-paid player in the NFL.[153] In the first nine games of the season, Wilson threw 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Over the next five games, Wilson threw 19 touchdowns and no interceptions, becoming the only quarterback in NFL history to throw 3+ touchdown passes and no interceptions in five consecutive games.[154] After a 2–4 start to the season, Wilson led the Seahawks to win seven of their next eight games and clinch a fourth consecutive playoff appearance in their Week 15 win over theCleveland Browns.[155][156] His strong performance over the second half of the season, even after losing star running backMarshawn Lynch and tight endJimmy Graham, led many analysts to consider Wilson an MVP candidate.[157]
Wilson broke numerous Seahawks single season passing records in 2015, including most passing yards (4,024), most passing touchdowns (34), and highest passer rating (110.1).[158] He became the first Seahawks quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season, and finished the year with the highest passer rating in the NFL.[159][160] Wilson's 51.7% deep ball completion percentage was the highest among NFL quarterbacks.[161] On December 22, 2015, Wilson was named to his third Pro Bowl.[162] He was ranked 17th on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2016.[163]
The Seahawks traveled to Minnesota to face theMinnesota Vikings in theWild Card Round. The temperature at kickoff was −6 °F (−25 °F wind chill), making it the third coldest game in NFL history.[164] Wilson struggled in the sub-zero temperatures, throwing for 142 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The Vikings missed a short field goal in the last minute, allowing the Seahawks to advance to theDivisional Round to face the 15–1Carolina Panthers.[165] Down 31–0 at the half, Wilson helped lead a furious comeback attempt, but the Panthers won 31–24, denying Wilson and the Seahawks their third consecutive in the NFC Championship and a shot at a third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. In that game, Wilson threw for 366 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.[166]
Wilson was drafted first overall by Team Irvin in the2016 Pro Bowl draft,[167] and in the game threw eight completions on 12 attempts for 164 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions for a 149.3 rating.[168] He was named the Pro Bowl offensive MVP.[169]
The Seahawks had a solid 2016 season with Wilson at the helm. However, Wilson drew two minor injuries: his ankle during Week 1 against theMiami Dolphins after getting stepped on by defensive linemanNdamukong Suh,[170] and his left knee against the 49ers during Week 3 after a takedown by linebackerEli Harold.[171] The injuries hampered Wilson's trademark mobility, and many speculated that he would be rested in order to properly recover.[172]
Regardless, Wilson started all 16 games in the season. On November 20, against thePhiladelphia Eagles, he had a 15-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Doug Baldwin on a trick play.[173] Wilson also played the worst game of his career in 2016, throwing five interceptions in a 38–10 loss to theGreen Bay Packers during Week 14.[174] The team finished with a 10–5–1 record and won the NFC West.[175] Wilson put together a season where he recorded a career-high 4,219 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 259 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown.[176] The Seahawks made the playoffs, where they defeated theDetroit Lions in theWild Card Round.[177] The win gave Wilson his eighth playoff victory.[178] However, they fell 20–36 to the eventual NFC championAtlanta Falcons in theDivisional Round at theGeorgia Dome.[179] He was ranked 24th by his peers on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2017.[180]
On September 5, 2017, Wilson was voted Seahawks offensive captain for the fifth consecutive season.[181] In Week 3, in a 33–27 loss to theTennessee Titans, he was 29 of 49 for 373 passing yards and four passing touchdowns.[182] In Week 8 against theHouston Texans, Wilson posted an astounding performance, going 26 of 41 for a career-high 452 passing yards and four touchdowns in a matchup where both he andDeshaun Watson each threw over 400 yards. Wilson also rushed for 30 yards, totaling 482 yards of offense in the 41–38 victory.[183] With his strong performance, Wilson earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week.[184] On December 21, 2017, the Seahawks were fined $100,000 for failure to properly apply the concussion protocol on a hit Wilson sustained during the Week 10 win over theArizona Cardinals.[185]
In a Week 12 win over theSan Francisco 49ers, Wilson became the winningest quarterback in a player's first six seasons with 63 wins, surpassingJoe Flacco.[186] Next week, with his 15-yard touchdown throw to running backJ. D. McKissic, the third of his game, Wilson tiedEli Manning in2011 for the most fourth quarter touchdowns in a single season with 15.[187] He went 20 for 31 for 227 yards and three touchdowns in that game, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week.[188] On December 19, 2017, Wilson was named to his fourth Pro Bowl.[189]
The Seahawks ended the season with a 9–7 record, ending Wilson's streak of five consecutive seasons with double-digit wins and a playoff appearance. He threw for 34 touchdown passes, finishing the season asthe league's leader in touchdowns thrown.[190][191] With 586 rushing yards and three touchdowns, he also finished the season as the team's leading rusher in both categories.[192][193] Wilson was ranked 11th by his peers on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2018.[194]
Wilson was once again named as a captain for the Seahawks going into the 2018 season.[197] He started the season with 298 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 27–24 loss to theDenver Broncos in Week 1.[198] In Week 3, against theDallas Cowboys, he helped lead the Seahawks to their first victory of the season with 192 passing yards and two touchdowns.[199] In Weeks 5–8, against theLos Angeles Rams,Oakland Raiders, andDetroit Lions, he had three consecutive games with three passing touchdowns.[200][201][202] In Week 13, against theSan Francisco 49ers, he had 185 passing yards and four touchdowns in the 43–16 victory.[203]
In Week 16, the Seahawks faced off against the top-seededKansas City Chiefs onNBC Sunday Night Football. Wilson out-dueled the season's eventual MVPPatrick Mahomes to lead the team to a 38–31 victory. This not only ensured another winning season for the Seahawks, but also defied early-season expectations by returning to the post-season after a one-year absence.[204] Wilson finished the season with 35 touchdowns and a 110.9 passer rating, both personal and franchise bests.[205] He also set career franchise records with most quarterback regular-season wins (75) and most touchdowns (196).[206] As the No. 5-seed in the NFC, the Seahawks faced off against the Dallas Cowboys in theWild Card Round. Wilson passed for 233 yards and one passing touchdown to go along with a rushing touchdown as the Seahawks fell 24–22.[207]
On April 16, 2019, Wilson signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension to remain with the Seahawks through the 2023 season, making him the highest paid player in the NFL.[210] In Week 2 against thePittsburgh Steelers, Wilson threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns as the Seahawks won 28–26, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week.[211][212] In Week 3 against the Saints, Wilson completed 32 passes for 406 yards and two passing touchdowns. In addition, he rushed seven times for 51 yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 33–27 loss.[213] In Week 5 against the Rams, Wilson threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns in the 30–29 win.[214] The next week, in a 32–28 victory over the Browns, he had 295 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.[215] In Week 9 against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, Wilson threw for 378 yards and five touchdowns in the 40–34 overtime win,[216] taking over the league lead in touchdowns and quarterback rating.[217] He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.[218] In Week 10 against the then-undefeated 49ers, Wilson threw for 232 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, and led the Seahawks to a 27–24 overtime win.[219]
Wilson finished the 2019 season with 4,110 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions to go along with 75 carries for 342 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns as the Seahawks finished with an 11–5 record and made the playoffs as the NFC's #5 seed.[220] He was once again named to the Pro Bowl, but also made his first appearance on the APAll-Pro team, being named second-team quarterback afterLamar Jackson.[221][222]
In theWild Card Round against thePhiladelphia Eagles, Wilson completed 18 of 30 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown. In addition, he rushed nine times for 45 yards. He accounted for 95 percent of the Seahawks total offense and led them to a 17–9 victory over the Eagles.[223] In theDivisional Round against theGreen Bay Packers, Wilson threw for 277 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 64 yards during the 28–23 loss.[224]
Wilson started off the 2020 season going 31 of 35 for 322 passing yards and four passing touchdowns in the 38–25 victory over theAtlanta Falcons.[226] He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 1.[227] In Week 2, against theNew England Patriots, he had 288 passing yards, five passing touchdowns, and one interception in the 35–30 victory.[228] Wilson continued his great start to the season with 315 passing yards and five touchdowns in the 38–31 victory over theDallas Cowboys.[229] Wilson set an NFL record most passing touchdowns through three games with 14.[230] He was again named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 3.[231] Wilson's 14 touchdown passes in the first three games of the season set a new NFL record. He was the first player in NFL history to pass for at least four touchdowns in the first three games of a season.[232] On October 1, 2020, Wilson was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for his performance in September.[233] In Week 4, Wilson passed for 360 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the 31–23 victory over theMiami Dolphins.[234]
In Week 5 against theMinnesota Vikings, Wilson threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown pass toDK Metcalf with 14 seconds left in the game, during the 27–26 win.[235] This win was his 100th win in 148 total games as starting quarterback for the Seahawks. In Week 7 against theArizona Cardinals, Wilson completed 33 of 50 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns, plus rushed 6 times for 48 yards, but threw three interceptions including a costly one toIsaiah Simmons with one minute left in overtime as the Seahawks lost 37–34.[236][237] In Week 8 against theSan Francisco 49ers, he threw for 261 yards and four passing touchdowns in the 37–27 victory.[238] In Week 9, against theBuffalo Bills, he had 390 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions to go along with a rushing touchdown in the 44–34 loss.[239]
In Week 14 against theNew York Jets, Wilson threw for 206 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception during the 40–3 win.[240] In the Week 17 season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, Wilson went 20 of 36 for 181 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 29 yards in the 26–23 victory.[241] Overall, Wilson finished the 2020 season with 4,212 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.[242] Wilson broke his own franchise record for passing touchdowns in a single season with his efforts in 2020.[243] In theWild Card Round, Wilson was unable to continue his success from the regular season, only completing 11 of 27 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception that was returned for a touchdown byDarious Williams in a 30–20 loss to theLos Angeles Rams.[244] A few days later on February 6, Wilson was named theWalter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his consistent and outstanding community service throughout the entirety of his career.[245][246][247]
During the Week 5 loss to theLos Angeles Rams, Wilson left the game after suffering a broken middle finger on his passing hand in the third quarter.[249] He had surgery to repair the injury on October 8, 2021.[250] On October 15, 2021, he was ruled out for the Week 6 game against thePittsburgh Steelers. It was the first game he missed in his career, which ended a streak of 149consecutive games started by an NFL quarterback, which is sixth all-time.[251] He was placed on injured reserve later that same day, ensuring he would miss the next three games at minimum.[252] He was activated off injured reserve November 12.[253] Wilson finished the season with 3,113 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, six interceptions, and an additional two rushing touchdowns as the Seahawks finished with a 7–10 record, their first losing record since Wilson's arrival.[254][255] Wilson earned his ninth Pro Bowl nomination after Tom Brady was unable to participate.[256] He was ranked 61st by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2022.[257]
Denver Broncos
On March 16, 2022, the Seahawks traded Wilson and a fourth-round pick to the Broncos in exchange for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterbackDrew Lock, defensive linemanShelby Harris, and tight endNoah Fant.[258]
Teammates said the trade was unavoidable, as Wilson broke with the team and "checked out" mid-season.[259] Seahawks chairpersonJody Allen released a statement indicating that the trade was initiated by Wilson.[260] The Seahawks said that Wilson did not approve of the team firing offensive line coachMike Solari and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.[261] Wilson said that while he did not initiate the trade, the decision was mutual.[262]
Before he left the Seahawks, Wilson reportedly asked for the firing of coachPete Carroll and general managerJohn Schneider.[263] Wilson denied these reports in a tweet.[264]
On September 1, 2022, Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million contract extension with the Broncos.[265]
In the season opener of the 2022 season, against theSeattle Seahawks, Wilson completed 29 of 42 passes for 340 yards and one touchdown in a 17–16 loss to his former team.[266]
In Week 2 against theHouston Texans, Wilson went 14 of 31 for 219 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 16–9 win, his first as a Bronco.[267] Despite an 11–10 victory over theSan Francisco 49ers in week 3, Wilson threw no touchdowns and only 126 yards.[268] In Week 4 against theLas Vegas Raiders, Wilson completed 17 of 25 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, and also had 29 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, but lost 32–23.[269] Against theIndianapolis Colts, Wilson went 21 of 39 for 274 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 12–9 overtime loss.[270] After the game, Wilson underwent a procedure on his right shoulder.[271]
In Week 6 against theLos Angeles Chargers, Wilson completed 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown for a 148.3 passer rating in the first quarter, but lost 19–16 in overtime.[272] During the game, Wilson suffered a partially torn hamstring, causing him to miss Week 7 against theNew York Jets.[273][274] In Week 8 against theJacksonville Jaguars inLondon, Wilson went 18 of 30 for 252 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 21–17 win.[275]
In Week 10 against theTennessee Titans, Wilson went 21 of 42 for 286 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 17–10 loss.[276] In a Week 11 rematch against the Las Vegas Raiders, Wilson went 24 of 31 for 247 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in a 22–16 overtime loss.[277] Against theCarolina Panthers in week 12, Wilson went 19 of 35 for 142 yards and a touchdown in a 23–10 loss.[278] During the game, he threw his 300th career touchdown pass, making him the fifth active quarterback with 300 career touchdown passes.[279]
In Week 13 against theBaltimore Ravens, Wilson went 17 of 22 for 189 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions in a 10–9 loss.[280] In Week 14 against theKansas City Chiefs, Wilson went 23 of 36 for 247 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in a 34–28 loss, but left the game after sustaining a concussion during the fourth quarter.[281] Despite passing concussion protocols, Wilson missed the Week 15 game against theArizona Cardinals.[282]
Wilson returned in Week 16 onChristmas Day against theLos Angeles Rams, where he threw for 214 yards, a touchdown, and three interceptions, and was sacked six times in the 51–14 loss, with his interception to former teammateBobby Wagner gaining internet fame due to the commentary of voice actorBill Fagerbakke on the game'sNickelodeon broadcast, in which Fagerbakke acted in-character asPatrick Star.[283] In a Week 17 rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs, Wilson went 26 of 38 for 222 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, along with 27 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in a 27–24 loss.[284] In a Week 18 rematch against the Los Angeles Chargers, Wilson went 13 of 24 for 283 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception in a 31–28 win.[285]
Overall, Wilson passed for 3,524 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions along with 55 carries for 277 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in the 2022 season.[286] The 2022 season was considered a massive disappointment for Wilson and the Broncos and resulted in the firing of head coachNathaniel Hackett.[287][288][289][290] Wilson was sacked more than any other quarterback in the 2022 season.[291][292][293] The Broncos had the league's worst scoring offense with 287 total points for 16.9 points per game.[294][295] Despite the disappointing season for Wilson, some of his teammates went on social media to express their support for him.[296] In March 2023, it was revealed that Wilson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee during the offseason.[297]
Going into the 2023 season, Wilson had a new head coach inSean Payton.[298] In the season opener against theLas Vegas Raiders, Wilson completed 27 of 34 passes for 177 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 17–16 loss.[299][300] In the following week against theWashington Commanders, Wilson threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns, including a 50-yard Hail-Mary pass, but also had two turnovers in a 35–33 defeat.[301] Against the Commanders, Wilson became the first player in NFL history to rush for 5,000 yards and pass for 40,000 in a career.[302] In Week 3, Wilson went for 23 of 38 for 306 yards, one touchdown pass, and an interception in a 70–20 blowout loss to theMiami Dolphins. After that loss, he started 0–3 record for the first time in his career.[303]
In Week 4 against theChicago Bears, Wilson threw for three touchdowns as the Broncos bounced back from the 21-point margin to defeat the Bears in 31–28 comeback victory.[304] In the following week against theNew York Jets, Wilson completed 20 of 31 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, but also took 4 sacks in a 31–21 loss.[305]
In Week 6, Wilson went 13-of-22 completions for 95 yards and one touchdown, but also threw two interceptions and took four sacks in a 19–8 defeat to theKansas City Chiefs.[306][307] Against theGreen Bay Packers in the following week, Wilson rebounded from his worst game as a Bronco a week earlier, completing 20-of-29 passes for 195 yards with one touchdown to secure a 19–17 victory at home for the first time this season.[308] In Week 7 rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs, Wilson completed 12 of 19 completions for 114 yards and three touchdowns in a 24–9 upset victory.[309][310]
Following thebye week, Wilson completed 24 of 29 passes for 193 yards with two touchdowns in a narrow 24–22 victory against theBuffalo Bills.[311][312] In Week 11 against theMinnesota Vikings, Wilson went 27 of 35 for 259 yards and one touchdown, game-winner toCourtland Sutton to secure a 21–20 victory.[313][314] Following losses to theDetroit Lions andNew England Patriots in Weeks 15 and 16, the Broncos announced that Wilson would be benched for the final two games of the season to "preserve financial flexibility".[315]
On March 4, 2024, the Broncos announced that Wilson would be released on March 13, the start of the new league year.[316]
On March 15, 2024, Wilson signed a one-year deal with thePittsburgh Steelers for the veteran's minimum ($1.2 million).[317][318] On August 28, Wilson was named the starter to begin the season after beating outJustin Fields for the starting quarterback position.[319] However, he was ruled out due to reaggravating a calf injury during practice on September 5.[320] The calf injury kept Wilson out for the first five weeks of the season before being deemed active for the first time in Week 6 as the backup to Fields.[321]
On October 20, Wilson made his first start for the Steelers in Week 7 against theNew York Jets, throwing for 264 yards, two touchdowns, and adding a rushing score in a 37–15 victory, marking the Steelers' highest-scoring game of the season.[322] His 264 passing yards were the most by a Steelers quarterback in his debut.[323] In Week 10 against theWashington Commanders, Wilson threw for three touchdowns, including the game-winner with under three minutes left as the Steelers rallied to win 28–27.[324] Wilson won his first four starts before suffering his first loss in Week 12 against theCleveland Browns by a score of 24–19.[325] Against theCincinnati Bengals the following week, Wilson produced the third 400-yard passing performance of his career, finishing 414 yards and three touchdowns and rebounding from a pick-six in the first quarter to lead the Steelers to a 44–38 victory.[326]
Wilson helped the Steelers reach a 10–3 record and first place in the AFC North, but a four-game losing streak to close the season, in which the Pittsburgh offense averaged 14 points and Wilson averaged under 200 yards per game, dropped the Steelers out of contention for the division and into a Wild Card spot.[327][328][329] Over 11 regular-season games, Wilson accumulated 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 95.6 passer rating.[330] He was named to the2025 Pro Bowl as a replacement, marking his tenth selection.[331] In theWild Card Round against theBaltimore Ravens, Wilson, in his first playoff appearance in four seasons, completed 20-of-29 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions, but the Steelers could not recover from a 21-point halftime deficit as they lost 28–14.[332]
On March 26, 2025, Wilson signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with theNew York Giants.[333] Although the Giants signed veteranJameis Winston and draftedJaxson Dart in the first round of the2025 NFL draft, the team announced that Wilson would be their starting quarterback to open the regular season.[334]
Wilson made his Giants debut on September 7, 2025 in Week 1 at theWashington Commanders, although struggled mightily, completing less than half of his pass attempts for 168 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions in the 21–6 loss.[335] Wilson would rebound the following week at theDallas Cowboys, completing 30-of-41 passes, for 450 yards (just two yards shy of his career high of 452 yards set in 2017), three touchdowns and one interception, including a late 48-yard go-ahead touchdown pass toMalik Nabers, to momentarily give New York a 37–34 lead with 25 seconds left in regulation before Dallas sent the game to overtime with a subsequent field goal. Despite Wilson’s performance, the Giants would eventually fall short in overtime 40–37.[336][337]
In a 22–9 loss against theKansas City Chiefs in Week 3, Wilson completed 18-of-32 passes for 160 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions, as fans booed Wilson in his first home game atMetlife Stadium and chanted "We want Dart".[338] Wilson was benched for Dart in Week 4.[339][340]
During the third quarter of the Week 6 game against divisional rival thePhiladelphia Eagles, Wilson went in for two snaps while Dart was being checked out under concussion protocol. Wilson was booed while walking off the field after handing the ball off and throwing a single incompletion.[341] Wilson also replaced Dart for the rest of the Week 10 game inChicago due to a concussion he suffered late in the third quarter. The Giants blew a ten-point lead and Wilson was sacked late to set up the Bears' game-winning touchdown drive.[342] After the game, Wilson was demoted to third-string quarterback behind Jameis Winston.[343]
After graduating from high school, Wilson was selected by theBaltimore Orioles as the fifth pick in the 41st round (1,222nd overall) of the2007 MLB draft.[366] The Orioles considered Wilson a talent worthy of the first ten rounds and offered him a $350,000signing bonus, the third-largest they offered a draftee that year afterMatt Wieters ($6 million) andJake Arrieta ($1.1 million).[367] Wilson instead chose to attend NC State that fall. In a 2008 interview, Wilson said, "I was leaning towards [entering the draft], but a college education is something you'll always have."[26]
In the summer of 2011, Wilson played 61 games for theAsheville Tourists, theClass A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies in theSouth Atlantic League. He hit three home runs with 15 RBIs and a .228 batting average.[372] In January 2012, Wilson informed the Rockies that he would be pursuing a career in the NFL and would not report tospring training for the 2012 season.[374]
On February 7, 2018, Wilson was traded from the Rangers to theNew York Yankees and assigned to the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, theTrenton Thunder.[378] Wilson grew up as a Yankees fan and promised his late father that he would one day wear the Yankees uniform.[379] On March 2, Wilson pinch-hit forAaron Judge in the fifth inning of a Spring Training game against theAtlanta Braves, his first appearance in a professional baseball game since 2011. He struck out on five pitches from Braves pitcherMax Fried.[380]
In 2014, Wilson became part-owner and endorser of Eat the Ball, a European bread company.[387] In 2015, he began endorsingLuvo, a frozen food company, and Reliant Recovery Water.[94][395] On February 29, 2016, Wilson launched Good Man Brand, a clothing line which he co-founded.[396] In August 2016, it was announced that Wilson had partnered with Juice Press to open the company's first Seattle franchise.[397]
On November 14, 2016, Wilson announced he had joinedChris Hansen,Wally Walker, and Erik and Pete Nordstrom as partners in the investment group working to bringa new sports arena to Seattle'sSoDo neighborhood for potentialNBA andNHL teams.[398]
In January 2020, Wilson was named Chairman of NFL FLAG. The global partnership will focus on strengthening NFL FLAG domestically and expanding the league internationally. He has worked with theflag football organizations in China, Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom to help spread awareness of the sport and get athletes engaged in the game at a young age.[404] More recently, both Wilson and Ciara struck first look deal withAmazon Studios.[405]
"It's payback, Russell Wilson falling way back / In the draft, turn nothing into something, still can make that / Straw into gold chump, I will spin Rumpelstiltskin in a haystack"
Wilson met his first wife, Ashton Meem, while they were both high school students. They married in January 2012 and divorced in April 2014.[38][424]
Wilson is married to American R&B singerCiara. They began dating in early 2015 and announced their engagement on March 11, 2016.[425][426] They were married on July 6, 2016, atPeckforton Castle inCheshire, England.[427] He has a stepson from her relationship withFuture. Their elder daughter was born on April 28, 2017.[428] Their son was born on July 23, 2020.[429] Their second daughter was born on December 11, 2023.[430]
Wilson is a devoutChristian. He frequently speaks about his Christian faith on his social media accounts.[434] Wilson and Ciara vowed to becelibate until they married.[435]
His net worth as of March 2025 is $283 million.[436]
Wilson was an active volunteer in the Seattle community. During the NFL season, Wilson made weekly visits on his days off to theSeattle Children's Hospital, and also visited soldiers atJoint Base Lewis-McChord.[12][441] In the offseason, Wilson hosts the Russell Wilson Passing Academy, a youth football camp, in several cities. In 2012, proceeds from the camp went to the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association, for which Wilson is the National Ambassador.[442][443][444] In 2013 and 2014, Wilson partnered withRussell Investments for its "Invested with Russell" program, which donated $3,000 to Wilson's charitable foundation for every touchdown he scored.[445]
Wilson co-hosts an annual charity golf event along withNASCAR driverKasey Kahne at Suncadia Resort inCle Elum, Washington, to support various organizations, includingBoys & Girls Clubs of America and the Seattle Children's Hospital.[446][447][448] In August 2016, Wilson's Why Not You Foundation raised $1,060,005 for the Seattle Children's Hospital's Strong Against Cancer initiative.[449]
^Wilson, Russell (September 25, 2012)."Bob and Groz Show".710 ESPN Seattle (Interview). Interviewed by Bob Stelton; Dave Grosby. Seattle, Washington:KIRO. Archived fromthe original on March 4, 2016. RetrievedSeptember 25, 2012.
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