Throughout his storied tenure in the NFL, Russell Wilson has achieved unimaginable success on the gridiron. With a dynamic skill set and unique leadership qualities, he has established himself as a preeminent figure not only in football but also in entrepreneurship, philanthropy and entertainment. By refusing to let conventional restrictions box him in, Wilson has helped to break the mold of what the modern sports star can be. In the process, he’s blazed a new trail for Black athletes for generations to come.Born in Cincinnati and raised in Richmond, Wilson was an active child, playing basketball, football and baseball. “I’ve loved sports my whole life,” the 35-year-old says. “The love came from my dad and my brother, and from playing against them.” He excelled in high school athletics and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles professional baseball team—but decided to further his education by enrolling for college at North Carolina State University. There, he excelled in football and baseball before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With his talent, Wilson had options when it came to sports, but it was guidance from a higher power that inspired him to focus on football.
“I think the decision was just God’s perfect timing for me,” Wilson explains. In focusing solely on football, he was able to sharpen his prowess as a passer, which led him to a stellar senior year at Wisconsin. He drove the Badgers to a record of 11-3 and a Big 10 Championship. In 2012, he declared for the NFL Draft, ultimately going to the Seattle Seahawks as a third-round pick. Although Wilson showed promise while playing Division I athletics, it was in the following years that the world would fully recognize the vastness of his potential.
During his career with the Seahawks, Wilson earned nine Pro Bowl selections, had several record-breaking seasons and achieved a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. In 2019, he dazzled audiences with a series of game-breaking passes and an uncanny ability to improvise outside of the pocket—compelling the public to create the phrase “Let Russ cook.” In the decade he spent behind center in Seattle, Wilson emerged as one of the best players in football. More importantly, his ascendancy served as a reminder that Black quarterbacks possess more than physical attributes, countering a narrative that has been pushed by scouts, coaches, executives and media since the league’s inception over a century ago.
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