Russell Wilson

Early Life and Family Roots

Russell Carrington Wilson was born on November 29, 1988, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Richmond, Virginia, the second of three children born to Harrison Wilson III, an attorney and former Dartmouth football and baseball player, and Tammy Wilson, a legal nurse consultant. Athletics ran deep in the family; his grandfather once served as president of Norfolk State University, and Wilson began throwing footballs with his father and older brother at age four. He starred in football, baseball, and basketball at Richmond's Collegiate School before enrolling at North Carolina State, where he threw for 8,545 yards and 76 touchdowns across three seasons and set an NCAA record with 379 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. A graduate transfer to Wisconsin followed in 2011, and Wilson made it count, throwing for 3,175 yards and 33 touchdowns against just four interceptions in a season that set the stage for his NFL arrival.

Seattle Seahawks Championship Era

Seattle selected Russell Wilson in the third round, 75th overall, in the 2012 NFL Draft, a modest slot for a player many teams considered too short at the position. He answered by winning the starting job as a rookie, tying Peyton Manning's rookie touchdown-passing record with 26 scores, and leading Seattle to a home unbeaten record. Two years later, Wilson became the third-youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, guiding the Seahawks past Denver 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. Over ten seasons in Seattle, he made nine Pro Bowl appearances, set franchise records for touchdowns and completion percentage, and helped build the Seahawks into perennial contenders, reaching a second Super Bowl the following year. That blend of mobility and downfield accuracy redefined the Seattle offense and secured Russell Wilson's place among the franchise's greatest players.

Denver and Pittsburgh Chapters

In March 2022, Seattle traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos in one of the largest deals in NFL history, sending two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and three players to Seattle. Denver signed him to a five-year, 245-million-dollar extension before he had thrown a pass for the team, a bet that never fully paid off; his two seasons in Denver ended with a benching and release in March 2024. Rather than retreat, Wilson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the move became a genuine reset. He missed the first six games with a calf injury, then returned to post a 6-5 record as a starter, completing 63.7 percent of his passes for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions, earning a Pro Bowl selection that reaffirmed his standing among the league's respected veterans.

Final Season and Retirement

Wilson signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants in March 2025, opening the season as the starter. After an 0-3 start, he lost the job to rookie Jaxson Dart, later revealing he had played through a Grade 2 hamstring tear suffered in practice. He finished the year having appeared in six games, completing 58 percent of his passes for 831 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. For a time, Wilson insisted he intended to keep playing into 2026, but on June 3, 2026, he posted a video thanking football and confirmed he was retiring to join CBS Sports as an analyst on The NFL Today. The announcement closed a 14-year playing career spanning five franchises, marking the end of one of the more resilient runs by a modern NFL quarterback.

Achievements and Lasting Legacy

Russell Wilson leaves the game with 46,966 passing yards, 353 touchdown passes, and 114 interceptions, numbers that place him among the most productive passers in NFL history. He was named the NFL's passer rating leader in 2015, led the league in touchdown passes in 2017, and won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award in 2020 for his community impact, including work through the Why Not You Foundation. A Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowl fixture, one of only a handful of quarterbacks to pair elite passing with genuine rushing production, Wilson's Super Bowl run in Seattle remains the signature achievement of a career defined as much by longevity and reinvention as by any single moment. His blend of arm talent, escapability, and staying power across five teams leaves a template future dual-threat quarterbacks will study.

FAQs About Russell Wilson

Q: how old is russell wilson

A: Russell Wilson was born on November 29, 1988, making him 37 years old as of 2026. He turns 38 later this year.

Q: who does russell wilson play for

A: Wilson does not play for an NFL team. He retired from professional football on June 3, 2026, after finishing his final season with the New York Giants, and has since joined CBS Sports as an analyst on The NFL Today.

Q: what team is russell wilson on

A: Wilson is not currently on an NFL roster. His last team was the New York Giants during the 2025 season, before he announced his retirement in June 2026.

Q: where does russell wilson live

A: There is no official confirmation available for Russell Wilson's current place of residence. Reporting on this detail is not confirmed by an official source, so we avoid speculating here.

Q: how tall is russell wilson

A: Russell Wilson is officially listed at 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) tall, according to his NFL player records.

Q: did russell wilson win a super bowl

A: Yes. Wilson won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks, defeating the Denver Broncos 43-8. He also appeared in Super Bowl XLIX the following season, which Seattle lost.

Q: how many rings do russell wilson have

A: Russell Wilson has one Super Bowl ring, earned with the Seattle Seahawks following their Super Bowl XLVIII victory in the 2013 season.

Q: what happened to russell wilson

A: After being traded from Seattle to Denver in 2022, Wilson was benched and released by the Broncos, then had one-year stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants. He retired from the NFL on June 3, 2026.

Q: who is russell wilson married to

A: Russell Wilson is married to singer and actress Ciara. The couple wed in 2016 and have children together.

Q: did russell wilson retire

A: Yes. Wilson officially announced his retirement from the NFL on June 3, 2026, confirming he would join CBS Sports as an analyst on The NFL Today.

Q: is russell wilson a hall of famer

A: Russell Wilson has not been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He only retired in June 2026 and is not yet eligible, as players must wait five years after retirement before consideration.

Q: is russell wilson injured

A: Wilson is now retired and not currently playing, so there is no active playing injury to report. In his final season with the Giants, he disclosed he had played through a Grade 2 hamstring tear.

Q: what did sean payton say about russell wilson

A: In October 2025, Broncos coach Sean Payton said he had hoped to face Wilson rather than Jaxson Dart, remarking the Giants "found a little spark with that quarterback." Wilson called the comments "classless" in response.

Q: why is russell wilson not playing

A: Wilson is not playing because he officially retired from the NFL on June 3, 2026, choosing to move into broadcasting with CBS Sports rather than continue his playing career.

Q: why was russell wilson benched

A: Wilson was benched by the Giants in 2025 after an 0-3 start, with rookie Jaxson Dart taking over. He was previously benched by the Broncos late in the 2023 season under coach Sean Payton.