Russell Wilson facts for kids
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Wilson with the Denver Broncos in 2022
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| No. 3 – New York Giants | |||||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
| Born: | November 29, 1988 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 206 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||
| High school: | Collegiate School (Richmond, Virginia) |
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| College: |
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| NFL Draft: | 2012 / Round: 3 / Pick: 75 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
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Russell Carrington Wilson (born November 29, 1988) is a professional football quarterback for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). He is known for his amazing skills as a quarterback. Many people consider him one of the best "dual-threat" quarterbacks ever. This means he is great at both throwing the ball and running with it.
Wilson played college football for the NC State Wolfpack and the Wisconsin Badgers. He also played minor league baseball. The Seattle Seahawks picked him in the 2012 NFL Draft. He quickly became a star, leading the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XLVIII. He also helped them reach another Super Bowl the next year.
Russell Wilson holds the record for most wins by an NFL quarterback in their first nine seasons. He is also one of only five quarterbacks with a career passer rating over 99. He signed big contracts with the Seahawks and later the Denver Broncos. After playing for the Broncos, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers and then the New York Giants.
Beyond football, Wilson is known for his charity work. He received the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2020. He also won the Bart Starr Award in 2022. Wilson is also a part-owner of the Seattle Sounders FC, a soccer team.
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Early Life and Family
Russell Wilson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and grew up in Richmond, Virginia. His father, Harrison Benjamin Wilson III, was a lawyer. His mother, Tammy Wilson, was a nurse director. He has an older brother, Harrison IV, and a younger sister, Anna.
Russell started playing football with his dad and brother when he was just four years old. He played his first organized game in sixth grade. His family has a strong sports background. His grandfather, Harrison B. Wilson Jr., played football and basketball in college. Russell's father played football and baseball at Dartmouth. His brother Harry played football and baseball at the University of Richmond. His sister Anna played basketball at Stanford.
Russell's father passed away in 2010 when Russell was 21.
High School Football Star
Wilson went to Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia. He was an amazing football player there. In 2005, as a junior, he threw for over 3,200 yards and 40 touchdowns. He also ran for over 600 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was named an all-district, all-region, and all-state player.
As a senior, he continued to shine. He threw for over 3,000 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also ran for over 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was featured in Sports Illustrated for his great performance in the state championship game. Russell was also his senior class president.
During high school, Wilson attended a summer football camp run by NFL star Peyton Manning. Years later, Manning remembered Wilson when they met again. Wilson also played basketball and baseball in high school.
College Football Journey
Russell Wilson first went to North Carolina State University (NC State) in 2007. He played football for the NC State Wolfpack.
Playing for NC State
In 2008, Wilson became the starting quarterback for NC State. He led the team to a winning record. He threw for 1,955 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also ran for 394 yards and four touchdowns. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) named him the first-team All-ACC quarterback. This was a big deal because he was the first freshman quarterback to get this honor.
In 2009, Wilson broke an NCAA record for most consecutive pass attempts without an interception. He threw 379 passes without an interception! He finished the season with over 3,000 passing yards and 31 touchdowns.
In 2010, Wilson led the Wolfpack to a 9–4 season. He led the ACC in passing yards and total offense. He was named second-team All-ACC. Russell graduated from NC State in just three years with a degree in communication.
Transferring to Wisconsin
In 2011, Wilson decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin. He played for the Wisconsin Badgers for one season.
In his first game for Wisconsin, he threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a 46-yard touchdown. Wilson led the Badgers to a great 6–0 start. He helped them win the first-ever Big Ten Championship Game. He was named the game's MVP.
Wilson finished his season at Wisconsin with 33 passing touchdowns. This set a new record for Wisconsin. He also set a record for passing efficiency in college football. After his time at Wisconsin, Wilson earned a master's degree.
Professional Football Career
Russell Wilson was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Many people were surprised because the Seahawks had just signed another quarterback. But Wilson quickly showed he was ready to be a starter.
Seattle Seahawks Years
2012: Rookie Season
Wilson became the Seahawks' starting quarterback for his first regular season game. He earned "Rookie of the Week" honors early in the season. He also won "NFC Offensive Player of the Week" for a big win against the Chicago Bears.
Wilson finished his rookie season with 3,118 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. He tied Peyton Manning's record for most touchdowns by a rookie. He also ran for 489 yards. His ability to run and extend plays made people compare him to Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton. He led the Seahawks to the playoffs in his first year.
2013: Super Bowl Champions
The Seahawks started the 2013 season with a 4–0 record. They went on a seven-game winning streak. Wilson led them to a 13–3 record, winning their division. He threw for 26 touchdowns and had a great passer rating. He was named to his second Pro Bowl.
In the playoffs, the Seahawks defeated the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. This sent them to Super Bowl XLVIII. Wilson led the Seahawks to a huge 43–8 win over the Denver Broncos. This was the Seahawks' first Super Bowl victory ever! Wilson became only the second black starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He also became the shortest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
2014: Back to the Super Bowl
In 2014, Wilson continued to lead the Seahawks. He helped them win a rematch against the Denver Broncos in overtime. He also set a new record for rushing yards by a quarterback on Monday Night Football with 122 yards. He became the first NFL player to pass for over 300 yards and rush for over 100 yards in the same game.
The Seahawks finished the season with a 12–4 record. They won their division and earned the top spot in the NFC playoffs. They defeated the Carolina Panthers and then had an amazing comeback win against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship. Wilson threw four interceptions in that game but still led his team to victory in overtime.
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The Seahawks went to Super Bowl XLIX to face the New England Patriots. They were trying to win their second Super Bowl in a row. The game was very close. The Seahawks were at the Patriots' one-yard line with seconds left. But a pass from Wilson was intercepted, and the Patriots won 28–24.
2015: Record-Breaking Season
In 2015, Wilson signed a big four-year contract extension with the Seahawks. He had an incredible second half of the season. He threw 19 touchdowns and zero interceptions in five consecutive games. This was an NFL record!
Wilson broke many Seahawks records in 2015. He set new team records for most passing yards (4,024), most passing touchdowns (34), and highest passer rating (110.1) in a season. He was the first Seahawks quarterback to throw for over 4,000 yards. He was named to his third Pro Bowl.
The Seahawks made the playoffs again. They won a very cold game against the Minnesota Vikings. But they lost to the Carolina Panthers in the next round. Wilson was named the Pro Bowl offensive MVP that year.
2016-2021: Continued Success and Challenges
Wilson continued to lead the Seahawks in the following years. In 2016, he played through some minor injuries but still had a career-high 4,219 passing yards. The Seahawks won their division and made the playoffs.
In 2017, Wilson was voted Seahawks offensive captain for the fifth time. He had a career-high 452 passing yards in one game against the Houston Texans. He finished the season leading the league with 34 touchdown passes. He also led the team in rushing yards.
In 2018, despite many changes to the team, Wilson led the Seahawks back to the playoffs. He set new personal and franchise records with 35 touchdowns and a 110.9 passer rating. He was named to his sixth Pro Bowl.
In 2019, Wilson signed a huge contract, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL at the time. He had another great season with 4,110 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl and was also selected for the All-Pro team. He led the Seahawks to a playoff win against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 2020 season was one of Wilson's best. He started strong, setting an NFL record with 14 passing touchdowns in the first three games. He finished the season with a career-high 40 touchdowns, breaking his own Seahawks record. He was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month. After the season, he received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for his amazing community service.
In 2021, Wilson suffered a broken finger, which caused him to miss games for the first time in his career. This ended his streak of 149 consecutive starts. He returned later in the season. He earned his ninth Pro Bowl nomination.
Denver Broncos Years
In March 2022, Russell Wilson was traded from the Seahawks to the Denver Broncos. This was a big trade involving many draft picks and players. Wilson signed a large contract extension with the Broncos.
2022 and 2023 Seasons
Wilson's time with the Broncos was challenging. In 2022, he passed for 3,524 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Broncos' offense struggled, and their head coach was fired. Wilson also dealt with injuries during the season.
In 2023, Wilson had a new head coach. He became the first player in NFL history to rush for 5,000 yards and pass for 40,000 yards in his career. However, the Broncos decided to bench him for the final two games of the season. In March 2024, the Broncos announced that Wilson would be released.
Pittsburgh Steelers
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In March 2024, Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He became the starting quarterback for the Steelers. He missed the first five weeks due to a calf injury.
Wilson made his first start for the Steelers in Week 7, throwing for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He helped the Steelers win four of his first four starts. He had a great game against the Cincinnati Bengals, throwing for over 400 yards. He helped the Steelers reach a 10–3 record. He earned his tenth Pro Bowl selection. The Steelers made the playoffs, but lost in the Wild Card Round.
New York Giants
In March 2025, Wilson signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants.
NFL Records and Awards
Russell Wilson holds several NFL records:
- Most passing yards in a playoff game by a rookie: 385 yards.
- Most fourth quarter touchdown passes in a season: 16 (in 2017).
He also holds many Seattle Seahawks team records, including:
- Highest passer rating in a career and a season.
- Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a career and a season.
- Most passing yards and touchdowns in a career and a season.
NFL Awards
- Super Bowl XLVIII Champion
- 10-time Pro Bowl selection
- Second-team All-Pro (2019)
- NFC Offensive Player of the Month (September 2020)
- Walter Payton Man of The Year (2020)
- Bart Starr Award (2022)
Baseball Career
Russell Wilson was also a talented baseball player. The Baltimore Orioles drafted him in 2007, but he chose to go to college instead.
College Baseball
He played baseball for the NC State Wolfpack baseball team from 2008 to 2010.
Professional Baseball
| Russell Wilson | |||
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| New York Yankees – No. 73 | |||
| Second baseman | |||
| Born: November 29, 1988 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 25, 2010, for the Tri-City Dust Devils | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 30, 2011, for the Asheville Tourists | |||
| MILB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .229 | ||
| Home runs | 5 | ||
| Runs batted in | 26 | ||
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In 2010, the Colorado Rockies drafted Wilson. He played as a second baseman for their minor league teams, the Tri-City Dust Devils and the Asheville Tourists. In 2012, he decided to focus on his NFL career.
Later, in 2013, the Texas Rangers acquired him. He even attended their spring training in 2014 and 2015. In 2018, he was traded to the New York Yankees. He made an appearance in a Spring Training game for the Yankees, which was special for him because he grew up as a Yankees fan.
Business and Endorsements
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Russell Wilson has worked with many big companies. He has appeared in advertisements for brands like Levi's, Pepsi, Nike, Microsoft, and Alaska Airlines.
He also has his own businesses. In 2016, he launched a clothing line called Good Man Brand. He also partnered with a juice company. In 2017, he started a fan network platform called TraceMe. He has also invested in a football helmet company.
In 2019, Wilson and his wife, Ciara, joined the ownership group of the Seattle Sounders FC, a local soccer team. The Sounders won the 2019 MLS Cup that year. Wilson is also the Chairman of NFL FLAG, which helps grow flag football around the world.
Personal Life
Russell Wilson is married to American R&B singer Ciara. They started dating in 2015 and got married in England in 2016. Russell has a stepson. They also have two daughters and a son together.
Wilson is a very religious person and often talks about his Christian faith. He and Ciara have lived in Seattle and Denver.
In 2021, Wilson and Ciara wrote a children's book called Why Not You?. The book helps kids believe in their dreams. It became a New York Times bestseller.
Charitable Work
Russell Wilson is very active in helping his community. When he played for the Seahawks, he visited Seattle Children's Hospital every week. He also visited soldiers at a military base.
He hosts a youth football camp called the Russell Wilson Passing Academy. Money from his camps goes to charity. He has partnered with organizations to donate money for every touchdown he scores.
Wilson also co-hosts a charity golf event. In 2016, his Why Not You Foundation raised over $1 million for the Seattle Children's Hospital's Strong Against Cancer program.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson and Ciara donated one million meals to people in need. In 2022, they received an award for their charity work in Seattle. They also pledged to donate $500,000 to charities in Colorado.
See also
In Spanish: Russell Wilson para niños
