Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is an American sportscaster and former professional football quarterback who played for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Seattle Seahawks. With the Seahawks, Wilson was named to the Pro Bowl nine times and helped Seattle win their first Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl XLVIII. He is regarded as one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks of all time. He is also a former professional baseball player.
Wilson played both college football and baseball for the NC State Wolfpack from 2008 to 2010 before transferring to the Wisconsin Badgers in 2011, where he set the single-season FBS record for passer rating and led them to a Big Ten title and the 2012 Rose Bowl. He also played minor league baseball for the Tri-City Dust Devils in 2010 and the Asheville Tourists in 2011 as a second baseman. The Seattle Seahawks selected Wilson in the third round (75th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. He tied the rookie record for most passing touchdowns and was named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. Wilson led the Seahawks to consecutive Super Bowl appearances over the next two seasons, winning Super Bowl XLVIII and losing Super Bowl XLIX after he was intercepted at the goal line by Malcolm Butler. He led the team to eight total playoff appearances with four division titles.
Wilson holds the record for most wins by an NFL quarterback through nine seasons and is one of five quarterbacks with a career passer rating over 99. 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. Wilson was traded to the Broncos in 2022 and later signed a five-year, $245 million extension. His time with the Broncos was largely unsuccessful, 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 the Pittsburgh Steelers for 2024 where he earned his tenth Pro Bowl selection. The next season he signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants. In 2026, he retired from the NFL to join CBS Sports as a sportscaster. He retired as the only quarterback with both 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards.
Noted for his philanthropy, Wilson was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2020 and was the recipient of the Bart Starr Award in 2022. Wilson is also part owner of the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). After he purchased his minority stake, the Sounders won MLS Cup 2019 and the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.
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Early life and background
Wilson was born at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. His parents are Harrison Benjamin Wilson III, a lawyer, and Tammy Wilson (née Turner), a nurse director. He has an older brother, Harrison IV, and a younger sister, Anna. 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.
Wilson's great-great-grandfather was enslaved to a Confederate colonel and was freed after the American Civil War. Wilson's paternal grandfather, Harrison B. Wilson Jr., was a former president of Norfolk State University who played football and basketball at Kentucky State University, and his paternal grandmother, Anna W. Wilson, was on the faculty at Jackson State University. Wilson's maternal grandfather was noted painter A. B. Jackson. According to genetic admixture analysis, Wilson is 62% African, 36% European, 1% West Asian, and 1% Central Asian. His European family lineage has been traced back to 524 A.D. to Saint Arnulf of Metz via Charlemagne. Wilson has also said he has some Native American ancestry, although he did not explicitly say which tribe he came from.
Wilson's father played football and baseball at Dartmouth and was a wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers preseason squad in 1980. Wilson's brother, Harry, played football and baseball at the University of Richmond, and his sister Anna played basketball at Stanford.
Wilson's father died of complications from diabetes on June 9, 2010, at age 55, the day after Wilson was drafted by the Rockies.
High school career
Wilson attended Collegiate School, a preparatory school in Richmond, Virginia. As a junior in 2005, he threw for 3,287 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns and rushed for 634 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. He was named an all-district, all-region, and all-state player. Wilson was twice named the Richmond Times-Dispatch Player of the Year.
As a senior, he threw for 3,009 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, and seven interceptions. In addition, he rushed for 1,132 yards and 18 touchdowns. That year, he was named an all-conference and all-state player as well as conference player of the year. He was featured in Sports Illustrated for his performance in the state championship game win. Wilson also served as his senior class president.
During his time in high school, Wilson attended the Manning Passing Academy, a summer football clinic run by multiple NFL MVP winner and eventual Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton 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 the Denver Broncos, where Manning had recently signed.
Wilson was also a member of the Collegiate School basketball and baseball teams.
Wilson committed to North Carolina State University. He was recruited by Curt Cignetti. He also received a football scholarship offer from Duke University.
College football career
NC State
Wilson redshirted during the 2007 season at NC State. In 2008, Wilson initially split time at quarterback with senior Daniel Evans and junior Harrison Beck. 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 in the regular season which NC State finished out on a four-game winning streak. During a 30–24 win over East Carolina, Wilson threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns. He threw for two touchdowns in each of the last six games in the regular season.
In the 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl against Rutgers, Wilson threw for 186 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 46 yards before halftime. Late in the first half, he scrambled 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. 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. The Atlantic 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.
Prior to the 2009 season, Wilson was named quarterback of the pre-season all-ACC football team on July 12. On September 19, Wilson broke Andre Woodson's all-time NCAA record of 325 consecutive pass attempts without an interception against Gardner–Webb. The 379-pass streak ended in a game against Wake Forest on October 3. On October 31, he passed for 349 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions against Florida State. Wilson held the record until November 10, 2012, when it was broken by Louisiana Tech quarterback Colby Cameron. Wilson was named honorable mention All-ACC in 2009. 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.
Wilson led the 2010 Wolfpack to a 9–4 season that included a 23–7 win over West Virginia in the 2010 Champs Sports Bowl. He led the ACC in passing yards per game (274.1) and total offensive yards per game (307.5). He was named second-team All-ACC and runner-up for ACC Football Player of the Year. 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.
Wisconsin
On June 27, 2011, Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema said that Wilson committed to Wisconsin for the 2011 season. In the season opener against UNLV, 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. In the next three games, Wilson threw for three passing touchdowns in each game, victories over Oregon State, Northern Illinois, and South Dakota. Following a 48–17 victory over previously undefeated #8 Nebraska, Wilson recorded a receiving touchdown in the 59–7 victory over Indiana. Wilson helped lead the Badgers to a 6–0 start and a #4 ranking in the AP Poll. The Badgers dropped their next two games, road losses to Michigan State and Ohio State. 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. At the end of the regular season, Wilson was named first team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. He also won the Griese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year award.
In the inaugural Big 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. In December 2011, Wilson was named a third team All-American by Yahoo! Sports, and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting with 52 points.
In the 2012 Rose Bowl against the Oregon 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. 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 behind Drew Brees during the 1998 season at Purdue (39). Wilson also set the single season FBS record for passing efficiency (191.8). On January 28, 2012, Wilson completed his college football career at the 2012 Senior Bowl.
After transferring to the University of Wisconsin, Wilson earned a master's degree in educational leadership and policy analysis.
Professional career
On January 16, 2012, Wilson began training for the NFL Scouting Combine at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Prior to the 2012 NFL draft, Wilson had been projected by NFL scouts and analysts to be a middle-round pick. In February 2012, former NFL quarterback and director of the IMG Madden Football Academy Chris Weinke said of Wilson, "If he was 6–5, he'd probably be the No. 1 pick in the draft." On April 11, 2012, ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon 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."
Seattle Seahawks
Wilson was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round (75th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft, the sixth quarterback selected. The Seahawks received significant criticism for their selections in the draft, and Wilson in particular, as they had just signed free agent Matt Flynn. Two weeks later, Wilson signed a four-year, $2.99 million contract with the Seahawks on May 7, 2012.
Wilson made his preseason debut against the Tennessee Titans on August 11, 2012, and had his first preseason start on August 24 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Two days later on August 26, 2012, Wilson was named the starting quarterback for the first regular season game after competing with Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson for the position.
On September 9, 2012, Wilson made his regular season debut in a 20–16 road loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He had 18 completions on 34 passing attempts for 153 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. In the third regular season game on Monday night, the Seahawks won 14–12 over the Green Bay Packers on a controversial Hail Mary touchdown pass to Golden Tate. 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 the referee lockout.
Wilson earned Rookie of the Week honors for his performance in a 28–7 victory over the New 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. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week and FedEx Player of the Week for his performance in a 23–17 road win over the Chicago Bears in overtime on December 2. In a 50–17 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Toronto on December 16, Wilson had 205 passing yards, one passing touchdown, nine rushes, 92 rushing yards, and a career-high three rushing touchdowns. 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. 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.
Wilson finished the 2012 regular season ranked fourth in the NFL in passer rating (100.0), beating the previous rookie record set by Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 (98.1), since broken by Robert Griffin III in 2012 (102.4) and Dak Prescott in 2016 (104.9). He threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns, tying Peyton Manning's record for most touchdowns thrown by a rookie, and rushed for 489 yards and four touchdowns. Wilson's scrambling mobility and ability to extend plays outside the pocket with his legs earned numerous comparisons to Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton.
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, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, and tight end Noah Fant.
Teammates said the trade was unavoidable, as Wilson broke with the team and "checked out" mid-season. Seahawks chairperson Jody Allen released a statement indicating that the trade was initiated by Wilson. The Seahawks said that Wilson did not approve of the team firing offensive line coach Mike Solari and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. Wilson said that while he did not initiate the trade, the decision was mutual.
Before he left the Seahawks, Wilson reportedly asked for the firing of coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider. Wilson denied these reports in a tweet.
On September 1, 2022, Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million contract extension with the Broncos.
In the season opener of the 2022 season, against the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson completed 29 of 42 passes for 340 yards and one touchdown in a 17–16 loss to his former team.
In Week 2 against the Houston Texans, Wilson went 14 of 31 for 219 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 16–9 win, his first as a Bronco. Despite an 11–10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3, Wilson threw no touchdowns and only 126 yards. In Week 4 against the Las 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. Against the Indianapolis Colts, Wilson went 21 of 39 for 274 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 12–9 overtime loss. After the game, Wilson underwent a procedure on his right shoulder.
In Week 6 against the Los 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. During the game, Wilson suffered a partially torn hamstring, causing him to miss Week 7 against the New York Jets. In Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, Wilson went 18 of 30 for 252 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 21–17 win.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On March 15, 2024, Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran's minimum ($1.2 million). On August 28, Wilson was named the starter to begin the season after beating out Justin Fields for the starting quarterback position. However, he was ruled out due to reaggravating a calf injury during practice on September 5. 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.
On October 20, Wilson made his first start for the Steelers in Week 7 against the New 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. His 264 passing yards were the most by a Steelers quarterback in his debut. In Week 10 against the Washington Commanders, Wilson threw for three touchdowns, including the game-winner with under three minutes left as the Steelers rallied to win 28–27. Wilson won his first four starts before suffering his first loss in Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns by a score of 24–19. Against the Cincinnati 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.
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. Over 11 regular-season games, Wilson accumulated 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 95.6 passer rating. He was named to the 2025 Pro Bowl as a replacement, marking his tenth selection. In the Wild Card Round against the Baltimore 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.
New York Giants
On March 26, 2025, Wilson signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the New York Giants. Although the Giants signed veteran Jameis Winston and drafted Jaxson Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, the team announced that Wilson would be their starting quarterback to open the regular season.
Wilson made his Giants debut on September 7, 2025, in Week 1 at the Washington Commanders; he struggled, completing less than half of his pass attempts for 168 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in the 21–6 loss. Wilson would rebound the following week at the Dallas 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 to Malik 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.
In a 22–9 loss against the Kansas 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 at MetLife Stadium and chanted "We want Dart". Wilson was benched for Dart in Week 4.
During the third quarter of the Week 6 game against divisional rival the Philadelphia 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. Wilson also replaced Dart for the rest of the Week 10 game in Chicago 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. After the game, Wilson was demoted to third-string quarterback behind Winston. At the end of the 2025 season, Wilson told the media that he suffered a hamstring tear in September before Week 2, which was not disclosed to the NFL since the Giants never listed him on their injury reports.
Retirement
Despite receiving an offer to be a backup quarterback for the New York Jets, Wilson announced his retirement from the NFL on June 3, 2026, after 14 seasons. Coinciding with his retirement announcement, he revealed that he was joining CBS Sports as a broadcast analyst.
Career statistics
Career highlights
Awards and honors
NFL
Super Bowl XLVIII champion
2× NFC champion (2013, 2014)
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (2020)
Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year (2012)
Second-team All-Pro (2019)
10× Pro Bowl (2012–2015, 2017–2021, 2024)
Pro Bowl Offensive MVP (2015)
NFL passer rating leader (2015)
NFL passing touchdowns leader (2017)
Bart Starr Award (2022)
PFWA Good Guy Award (2014)
3× Steve Largent Award (2012, 2018, 2019)
Seattle Seahawks Top 50 Players
NFC Offensive Player of the Month (September 2020)
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (December 2012)
11× NFC Offensive Player of the Week
Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week (Week 10, 2012)
7× FedEx Air Player of the Week
10× NFL Top 100 — 51st (2013), 20th (2014), 22nd (2015), 17th (2016), 24th (2017), 11th (2018), 25th (2019), 2nd (2020), 12th (2021), 61st (2022)
College
Records
Most passing yards in a playoff game by a rookie: 385
Most fourth quarter touchdown passes in a season: 16 (2017)
Highest passer rating, career (minimum 500 attempts): 101.8
Highest passer rating, season (minimum 200 attempts): 110.9, 2018
Highest passer rating, rookie season (minimum 200 attempts): 100.0
Highest completion percentage, rookie season (minimum 200 attempts): 64.1
Lowest percentage passes intercepted, career (minimum 500 attempts): 1.80
Lowest percentage passes intercepted, rookie season (minimum 200 attempts): 2.54
Most rushing yards by a quarterback, career: 4,689
Most rushing yards by a quarterback, season: 849, 2014
Most rushing yards by a quarterback, rookie season: 489
Highest yard rushing average, career (minimum 400 attempts): 5.5
Highest yard rushing average, season (minimum 100 attempts): 7.2
Most passing yards, career: 37,059
Most passing yards, rookie season: 3,118
Most passing yards, game: 452 on October 29, 2017, against the Houston Texans
Broadcasting career
On June 1, 2026, Wilson accepted a deal with CBS Sports to join its Sunday pregame show.
Baseball career
After graduating from high school, Wilson was selected by the Baltimore Orioles as the fifth pick in the 41st round (1,222nd overall) of the 2007 MLB draft. The Orioles considered Wilson a talent worthy of the first ten rounds and offered him a $350,000 signing bonus, the third-largest they offered a draftee that year after Matt Wieters ($6 million) and Jake Arrieta ($1.1 million). 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."
College baseball
Wilson was a member of the NC State Wolfpack baseball team from 2008 to 2010, and in the summer of 2009 played for the Gastonia Grizzlies, a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League. He hit .282/.384/.415 with five home runs and 30 runs batted in (RBIs) during his collegiate career.
Professional baseball
On June 8, 2010, Wilson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round (140th pick overall) of the 2010 MLB draft. That summer he played 32 games as a second baseman for the Tri-City Dust Devils, the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Rockies in the Northwest League. He finished the season with two home runs, 11 RBIs, and a .230 batting average.
In the summer of 2011, Wilson played 61 games for the Asheville Tourists, the Class A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies in the South Atlantic League. He hit three home runs with 15 RBIs and a .228 batting average. In January 2012, Wilson informed the Rockies that he would be pursuing a career in the NFL and would not report to spring training for the 2012 season.
On December 12, 2013, Wilson was acquired from the Rockies by the Texas Rangers in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft. Wilson attended Rangers spring training in Surprise, Arizona, in 2014 and 2015.
On February 7, 2018, Wilson was traded from the Rangers to the New York Yankees and assigned to the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder. Wilson grew up as a Yankees fan and promised his late father that he would one day wear the Yankees uniform. On March 2, Wilson pinch-hit for Aaron Judge in the fifth inning of a Spring Training game against the Atlanta Braves, his first appearance in a professional baseball game since 2011. He struck out on five pitches from Braves pitcher Max Fried.
Business ventures and endorsements
On April 26, 2012, Wilson announced he had chosen French/West/Vaughan as his marketing, public relations, and endorsements agency. Since being named the starting quarterback of the Seahawks in August 2012, Wilson has appeared in advertisements for Levi's, American Family Insurance, Pepsi, Nike, Alaska Airlines, Microsoft, Duracell, Braun, Bose, United Way, and Larson Automotive Group.
In 2014, Wilson became part-owner and endorser of Eat the Ball, a European bread company. In 2015, he began endorsing Luvo, a frozen food company, and Reliant Recovery Water. On February 29, 2016, Wilson launched Good Man Brand, a clothing line which he co-founded. In August 2016, it was announced that Wilson had partnered with Juice Press to open the company's first Seattle franchise.
On November 14, 2016, Wilson announced he had joined Chris Hansen, Wally Walker, and Erik and Pete Nordstrom as partners in the investment group working to bring a new sports arena to Seattle's SoDo neighborhood for potential NBA and NHL teams.
In 2017, Wilson founded a fan network platform to connect fans with celebrities called TraceMe. TraceMe launched its public beta on September 8, 2017, and announced $9 million in Series A funding with investors including Jeff Bezos' Bezos Expeditions, Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley.
On November 20, 2017, football helmet manufacturer VICIS announced a $7 million investment round which included Wilson as an investor.
In June 2018, Wilson and his wife Ciara announced they were joining an effort to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to Portland, Oregon. In July 2018, Wilson became an investor and endorser for Molecule, a mattress company.
In September 2018, Wilson was announced as the next athlete to appear on the cover of the Wheaties cereal box.
In August 2019, Wilson and Ciara announced that they had joined the ownership group of Seattle Sounders FC, the local Major League Soccer club. The Sounders went on to win the 2019 MLS Cup, giving Wilson an MLS Cup to his credit as part owner.
In popular culture
Wilson has appeared on the cover of several magazines including Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Kids, Rolling Stone, ESPN The Magazine, Men's Fitness, Essence, and Men's Health.
Rapper Eminem mentions Wilson in his 2013 song, "The Monster":
"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 has appeared on Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Charlie Rose, and in the 2015 film Entourage. He hosted the 2015, 2016, and 2017 Kids' Choice Sports on Nickelodeon.
Wilson was the keynote speaker for the commencement address at both of his alma maters in 2016 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and in 2021 at North Carolina State University. He was also the keynote speaker at Dartmouth College's commencement in 2022.
Personal life
Wilson met his first wife, Ashton Meem, while they were both high school students. They married in January 2012 and divorced in April 2014.
Wilson is married to American R&B singer Ciara. They began dating in early 2015 and announced their engagement on March 11, 2016. They were married on July 6, 2016, at Peckforton Castle in Cheshire, England. He has a stepson from her relationship with Future. Their elder daughter was born on April 28, 2017. Their son was born on July 23, 2020. Their second daughter was born on December 11, 2023.
While Wilson was playing for the Seahawks, he and Ciara lived in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Washington, until selling their home in April 2022 for $36 million. In 2022, the couple purchased a home in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, for $25 million, setting the record for the most expensive home purchase in the Denver metropolitan area. Wilson also has a house in San Diego.
Wilson is a devout Christian. He frequently speaks about his Christian faith on his social media accounts. Wilson and Ciara vowed to be celibate until they married.
His net worth as of March 2025 is $283 million.
Wilson's younger sister Anna played basketball at Stanford.
In September 2021, Wilson and Ciara announced that they were writing a children's book called Why Not You? to help kids pursue their dreams. The book was co-written with JaNay Brown-Wood, published by Random House, and released on March 1, 2022; it received a starred review from the School Library Journal and was a New York Times bestseller.
Charitable work
Wilson was an active volunteer in the Seattle community. During the NFL season, Wilson made weekly visits on his days off to the Seattle Children's Hospital, and also visited soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 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. In 2013 and 2014, Wilson partnered with Russell Investments for its "Invested with Russell" program, which donated $3,000 to Wilson's charitable foundation for every touchdown he scored.
Wilson co-hosts an annual charity golf event along with NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Washington, to support various organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Seattle Children's Hospital. In August 2016, Wilson's Why Not You Foundation raised $1,060,005 for the Seattle Children's Hospital's Strong Against Cancer initiative.
In March 2020, Wilson and Ciara partnered with Food Lifeline to donate one million meals to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In May 2022, Wilson and Ciara received the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award for their philanthropic and humanitarian contributions to Seattle.
In July 2022, Wilson and Ciara pledged to donate $500,000 to nonprofit organizations in Colorado.