Russell Carrington Wilson, born on November 29, 1988, is a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL. Before joining the Steelers, he played for the Seattle Seahawks for 10 seasons and the Denver Broncos for two seasons. With the Seahawks, Wilson made it to the Pro Bowl nine times and helped the team win their first Super Bowl in Super Bowl XLVIII. He’s known as one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in history.
Russell Wilson’s Early Life and background:
Russell Wilson was born on November 29th, 1988, in Cincinnati, Ohio, but he grew up in Richmond, Virginia. He attended Stone Bridge High School in Virginia, where he excelled in football and received honors as an all-region, all-district, and all-state player.
College Years:
Wilson went on to attend North Carolina State University, where he played as the starting quarterback. However, he also pursued baseball, leading to conflicts with his football coach, Tom O’Brien. Eventually, Wilson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball in 2010. Due to disagreements with O’Brien, he transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for his final year of college eligibility. There, he had a standout senior year, leading the Badgers to the Big 10 conference title and setting an NCAA record for passing efficiency.
In the 2012 NFL Draft, Russell Wilson was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks as the 75th overall pick in the third round. Despite being considered short for a quarterback at 5 feet 11 inches, he was the sixth quarterback selected in the draft.
NFL Journey:
Wilson became the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, competing with Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson for the position. He was named Rookie of the Year for his performance that season, which included leading the Seahawks to end with a five-game winning streak and throwing 26 touchdowns.
In the following season, Wilson helped the Seahawks win an NFC West title and led them to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII, becoming only the fourth quarterback to win a Super Bowl in his second NFL season.
The Seahawks reached another Super Bowl in the 2014 season, but lost to the New England Patriots. Wilson signed significant contracts with the Seahawks in 2015 and 2018.
Despite his success, Wilson faced his first career game absence in October 2021 due to a finger injury, ending his streak of 149 consecutive games played.
Trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers:
After rumors of dissatisfaction with the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff, Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos, where he signed a five-year extension. However, he was later traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2024 season.
Russell Wilson’s Net Worth
Russell Wilson’s net worth is estimated to be around $165 million. This includes his earnings from the NFL, performance bonuses, and contract restructures. In 2019, he further boosted his net worth by signing a $140 million contract extension with the Seahawks. For the 2024 season, Wilson is projected to earn approximately $39 million.
Russell Wilson Awards and honors:
- Super Bowl XLVIII Champion
- 9× Pro Bowl Selection (2012–2015, 2017–2021)
- Second-team All-Pro (2019)
- 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)
- PFWA Good Guy Award (2014)
- 7× FedEx Air Player of the Week
- 3x Steve Largent Award (2012, 2018, 2019)
- NFL Top 100: Ranked 51st (2013), 20th (2014), 22nd (2015), 17th (2016), 24th (2017), 11th (2018), 25th (2019), 2nd (2020), 12th (2021)
- Walter Payton Man of The Year (2020)
- Bart Starr Award (2022)
Seattle Seahawks (2012-2021)
Russell Wilson joined the Seattle Seahawks as a third-round pick. Despite being a rookie, he quickly became the team’s starting quarterback, beating out more experienced players. Wilson’s leadership led the Seahawks to their first-ever Super Bowl win in just his second season. Throughout his time with the Seahawks, Wilson set records for the most wins by an NFL quarterback in his first nine seasons and maintained a career passer rating above 100. In 2022, he was honored with the Bart Starr Award.
Denver Broncos (2022-2023)
Traded from the Seahawks, Russell Wilson joined the Denver Broncos in 2022. The trade involved multiple players and draft picks. With the Broncos, Wilson signed a lucrative contract, including a significant signing bonus. However, his first season with the Broncos was challenging. The team struggled, and Wilson faced difficulties on the field, including being sacked frequently. In the 2023 season, the team continued to face setbacks, leading to Wilson’s departure from the Broncos at the end of the season.