Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson was born to Harrison Wilson III, a former NFL prospect who became a lawyer, and Tammy Wilson, a legal nurse consultant. He grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and developed his athletic skills while competing with his older brother, Harry. His younger sister, Anna, played basketball at Stanford, while his older brother Harrison played college football and baseball at Richmond.

Wilson was married to Ashton Meem from 2012 to 2014. He has been married to R&B artist Ciara since 2016. They have three children together, Sienna, Win, and Amora. Wilson is also the stepfather of Future Zahir, Ciara's son from her previous relationship with rapper Future.

Wilson played football, basketball, and baseball at Collegiate School in Richmond. As a senior quarterback, he was named conference player of the year and helped win the state championship after throwing two touchdown passes and rushing for 223 yards and three scores in the title game.

At North Carolina State University, Wilson became the first freshman quarterback to earn first-team All-ACC honors. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2010 and attended baseball spring training in 2011, a decision that contributed to his transfer to the University of Wisconsin for his final season of college football. At Wisconsin, he led the Badgers to the Big Ten title and set an NCAA record for passing efficiency. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the 75th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Wilson entered his rookie training camp behind veteran quarterback Matt Flynn, but his preseason performance earned him the starting role from coach Pete Carroll. He finished his rookie season with 26 touchdown passes, tying the rookie record, and was voted NFL.com Rookie of the Year.

In his second season, Wilson led Seattle to the NFC West title and threw two touchdown passes in the Seahawks' 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. The win made him the fourth quarterback to win a Super Bowl in his second season. His former Wisconsin teammate Montee Ball played for Denver in the game.

Wilson returned to the Super Bowl with Seattle the following season, facing the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX. The Seahawks lost 28-24 after Wilson's final pass was intercepted at the goal line by Malcolm Butler. Wilson later led Seattle to another NFC West title in 2020, the final postseason appearance of his Seahawks career.

Wilson set personal bests with 35 touchdown passes and a 110.9 passer rating in 2018, then earned his first AP All-Pro selection in 2019 after throwing 31 touchdowns against five interceptions. In 2020, he received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

The Seahawks traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos after the 2021 season. He joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 and signed with the New York Giants in 2025, beginning that season as the starter before being replaced by rookie Jaxson Dart. After 14 NFL seasons, Wilson announced his retirement as a player and moved into television analysis with CBS Sports.

Wilson and Ciara launched Why Not You Productions in 2018. The company develops scripted and unscripted television and film projects.