Russell Wilson is a former NFL quarterback, Super Bowl XLVIII champion, and 10-time Pro Bowler who played 14 seasons before moving into broadcasting with CBS Sports in 2026. He finished his playing career with the New York Giants in 2025.
At 37, Wilson is best known for the decade he spent with the Seattle Seahawks, where he became the winningest quarterback in franchise history and helped deliver the team’s first Super Bowl title. His later stops with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Giants added three more chapters to a career that stretched from 2012 through 2025.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Russell Wilson |
|---|---|
| Full name | Russell Carrington Wilson |
| Born | November 29, 1988 |
| Birthplace | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Raised in | Richmond, Virginia |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches |
| Position | Quarterback |
| College | NC State, Wisconsin |
| NFL Draft | 2012, Round 3, No. 75 |
| NFL teams | Seahawks, Broncos, Steelers, Giants |
| Super Bowl wins | 1 |
| Pro Bowls | 10 |
| Current role | CBS Sports NFL analyst |
| Wife | Ciara |
Wilson was born in Cincinnati but grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where he attended Collegiate School. His athletic background was unusual even before the NFL: he played both football and baseball and went on to compete in both sports at the college level.
Russell Wilson’s Early Life and College Career
Wilson started his college career at North Carolina State University, where he played quarterback while also pursuing baseball. He later transferred to the University of Wisconsin for the 2011 football season.
His only season with the Badgers was enough to attract major NFL attention. Wilson led Wisconsin to the Big Ten title game and the Rose Bowl while putting together one of the most efficient passing seasons in college football at the time.
His baseball career also overlapped with football. The Colorado Rockies selected Wilson in the 2010 MLB Draft, and he later spent time in the team’s minor league system. He ultimately chose football as his primary professional path. Wilson was later acquired by the Texas Rangers and eventually traded to the New York Yankees, making him one of the more unusual two-sport stories among modern NFL quarterbacks.
When Was Russell Wilson Drafted?
The Seattle Seahawks selected Russell Wilson with the 75th overall pick in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Seattle had recently signed veteran quarterback Matt Flynn, so Wilson was not widely viewed as the obvious starter before training camp. He won the job, however, and opened the season as Seattle’s quarterback.
Wilson immediately produced. As a rookie, he threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns and helped Seattle reach the playoffs. The following season became the defining breakthrough of his career.
Russell Wilson and the Seahawks
Wilson spent 10 seasons with Seattle from 2012 through 2021. During that stretch, he became the central figure of one of the NFL’s most successful teams of the era.
In the 2013 season, Seattle finished 13-3 and advanced through the playoffs to Super Bowl XLVIII. The Seahawks then defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8, giving the franchise its first Super Bowl championship. Wilson threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
Seattle returned to the Super Bowl the next season, but lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.
Wilson remained one of the league’s most consistent quarterbacks for years after that. He earned nine Pro Bowl selections during his Seattle tenure and became the franchise’s career leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, and passer rating.
Seahawks Career Numbers
Over his 10 seasons in Seattle, Wilson recorded 37,059 passing yards and 292 passing touchdowns. He also rushed for 4,689 yards, reflecting the mobility that was a major part of his playing style.
One of his most remarkable durability records was a run of 149 consecutive starts to begin his NFL career. That streak ended in 2021 after he suffered a hand injury.
Russell Wilson’s NFL Teams After Seattle
Seattle traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos in March 2022 in a major deal involving multiple draft picks and players. He spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons in Denver before moving to Pittsburgh.
With Denver, Wilson’s first season was difficult statistically, but his second season was stronger. In 2023, he passed for 3,070 yards and 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
Wilson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2024 season. He played 11 games, throwing for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions, and earned his 10th Pro Bowl selection.
The New York Giants became the final NFL team of his playing career. Wilson started the first three games of the 2025 season before rookie Jaxson Dart took over as the starter. Wilson finished the season having appeared in six games with three starts.
Russell Wilson’s Career Stats
According to NFL career statistics, Wilson finished with 205 regular-season games, 46,966 passing yards, 353 passing touchdowns, and 114 interceptions. He also recorded 5,568 rushing yards and 31 rushing touchdowns.
| Career statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Games | 205 |
| Passing yards | 46,966 |
| Passing TDs | 353 |
| Interceptions | 114 |
| Rushing yards | 5,568 |
| Rushing TDs | 31 |
| Pro Bowls | 10 |
| Super Bowl titles | 1 |
Those numbers place Wilson among the more accomplished quarterbacks of his generation, particularly when his passing production is considered alongside his rushing ability and long run of durability.
What Is Russell Wilson Doing Now?
Wilson stepped away from playing football in 2026 and joined CBS Sports as an analyst for The NFL Today. His move followed a 14-season NFL career that ended with the Giants in 2025.
His transition to television gives him a role that draws directly on his playing experience. CBS announced Wilson as part of its 2026 NFL Today lineup alongside James Brown, Bill Cowher, and Nate Burleson.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, described his move as a transition from the field to television after a decade in Seattle. The franchise credits him with rewriting much of its quarterback record book and helping establish its first Super Bowl championship.
Russell Wilson and Ciara
Russell Wilson is married to singer Ciara. The couple began dating in 2015 and married in 2016.
They have three children together: daughter Sienna Princess, son Win Harrison, and daughter Amora Princess. Ciara also has a son, Future Zahir, from a previous relationship, making their household a blended family. In September 2026, Ciara announced that she and Wilson were expecting another child.
Wilson and Ciara have also worked together on charitable initiatives through the Why Not You Foundation, which focuses on education and youth-related causes.
Russell Wilson’s Philanthropy
Wilson’s public work has been an important part of his career outside football. In 2020, he won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, an honor recognizing a combination of community impact and performance on the field.
His charitable work includes the Why Not You Foundation, founded in 2014 with Ciara. The organization has supported efforts connected with education, children’s health, and food security.
Russell Wilson’s Legacy
Wilson’s NFL career had several distinct phases: the immediate success of his Seattle years, the difficult transition to Denver, a productive season in Pittsburgh, and a brief final stint with the Giants.
His defining achievements remain concentrated in Seattle. He won a Super Bowl in his second NFL season, returned to the championship game the following year, earned 10 Pro Bowl selections overall, and left the Seahawks holding major franchise passing records.
Now his professional focus has shifted from taking snaps to analyzing them. As of September 2026, Wilson is working in television with CBS Sports after completing a 14-year NFL playing career.
FAQs
How old is Russell Wilson?
Russell Wilson is 37 years old. He was born on November 29, 1988, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Is Russell Wilson still playing in the NFL?
No. Wilson last played for the New York Giants in the 2025 season and moved to CBS Sports as an NFL analyst in 2026.
How many Super Bowls has Russell Wilson won?
Russell Wilson has won one Super Bowl. The Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII during the 2013 season.
How many Pro Bowls did Russell Wilson make?
Wilson was selected to 10 Pro Bowls during his NFL career.
Who is Russell Wilson’s wife?
Russell Wilson’s wife is singer Ciara. They married in 2016 and have three children together, while also raising Ciara’s son from a previous relationship.
Source list
- NFL: Russell Wilson posts ‘thank you, football’ video as he transitions into CBS broadcasting role, Access Date: September 20, 2026
- NFL: Russell Wilson Career Stats, Access Date: September 20, 2026
- CBS Sports: Russell Wilson joins CBS Sports’ The NFL Today pregame show, Access Date: September 20, 2026
- Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson Says Thank You To Football, Announces Move To Television, Access Date: September 20, 2026
- Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson, Access Date: September 20, 2026
- New York Giants: 10 things to know about QB Russell Wilson, Access Date: September 20, 2026
- New York Giants: Presser Points: Coach Brian Daboll on quarterback decision, Access Date: September 20, 2026
- ABC News: Ciara and Russell Wilson expecting new baby: What to know about their blended family, Access Date: September 20, 2026
- NFL: Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award Winners, Access Date: September 20, 2026
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I am an independent writer and digital researcher tracking everyday trends, tech shifts, and modern culture across the US. I focus on cutting through internet noise to bring you crisp, honest stories and practical takeaways you can actually use.
