Russell Wilson is one of the most well-known quarterbacks of his generation.
A Super Bowl winner, Wilson was often among the NFL betting favourites to win league MVP, and consistently made sure his team were a value betting pick in the regular and post season.
From leading a perennially contending Seattle Seahawks team, Wilson’s career has dwindled.
A disappointing spell with the Denver Broncos brought no notable success, leading to a veteran-minimum contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers and a quarterback battle with Justin Fields.
A career that looked on course to rank among the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history has never lived up to that expectation. Wilson, though, remains a high-profile name for fans in the US and abroad.
How Much Is Russell Wilson Worth?
Russell Wilson reportedly has a net worth of roughly £130 million. Just four players in NFL history – Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan – have higher career earnings than Wilson.
The former Seattle Seahawks quarterback is destined to overtake Ryan before he retires from the sport.
When it comes to cap-adjusted earnings, Wilson is just 11th all-time. He has amassed more in playing salary than Joe Flacco, Carson Palmer, and several other big names, but his career number is a long way behind Brady, Peyton Manning, Rodgers, and Drew Brees.
Alongside his NFL earnings, Wilson has a raft of business interests across different industries. He founded a fan network and became part-owner of a European bread company.
His net worth has also been bolstered by a string of endorsements, including Amazon, Bose, Mercedes, Nike, and Panini.
Contract
Russell Wilson’s current contract is a one-year, $1.21 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This represents a major decrease in salary for the nine-time Pro Bowler.
Wilson had a four-year, $140 million contract extension from the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. After being traded to the Denver Broncos in 2022, he penned a five-year, $245 million extension. He has consistently been among the league’s highest-paid players until the 2024 season.
There was $165 million guaranteed in the Broncos deal. The first three years of the deal were fully guaranteed. Denver opted to bench Wilson for the final two games of the 2023 regular season before releasing him at the end of the league year.
Kevin Parta of NFL.com explained why the Broncos benched Wilson.
“Wilson has a $37 million injury guarantee for 2025 that becomes fully guaranteed in March.
“Sitting the QB the final two weeks to ensure he doesn't suffer a catastrophic injury provides the Broncos financial flexibility if Sean Payton and Co. decide to move on from the 35-year-old quarterback in 2024.
“It's not a done deal, but the late-season benching is a strong indicator Denver will end the Wilson ride after two seasons.”
Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers secured Wilson for the league minimum salary in March 2024. Pittsburgh also acquired Justin Fields in the offseason, creating a competition for quarterback reps.
Wilson said all the right things at his introductory press conference, praising his teammates and head coach.
"It's a great tradition. To be able to compete and be able to go to work with these guys every single day is the gift of this game. Enjoying the process of it all.
"The reason I wanted to come here is because I wanted to win championships with Coach (Mike) Tomlin and the guys in the locker room. We got some amazing players, guys like Cam Heyward, a guy who has been (Walter Payton) Man of the Year, a guy who has impacted so many.
"Got to talk to him for a little while during this process. And then obviously Mr. T.J. Watt himself. Really should be defensive player, I don't know how many times, maybe third, fourth time could have won it. Just tremendous athlete, player, competitor.
"Guys like Minkah (Fitzpatrick), George Pickens, and just so many other great players along the way. Got to see some guys like (Pat) Freiermuth and (Isaac) Seumalo in there. Great place to be.
"Grateful for the opportunity to be able to get after it and do what we came here to do, and that's to win football games."
The former Bronco also recounted what it was like to experience free agency for the first time.
"When have the opportunity to be a free agent and go through that process, and when Denver allowed me to speak to teams and go through that process -- this is the first time I've ever gone through that process.
"It kind of feels like you're at the Combine all over again in a way. Kind of going through the interview process with people and getting to meet people…
"I was fortunate to have several teams call and all that, but this is the place I wanted to be, be a Pittsburgh Steeler and to wear the black and gold. It's a true honor, tradition, history. There's six trophies in there and we got to go get a seventh."
Wife
Russell Wilson is married to singer-songwriter Ciara. Wilson was previously married to Ashton Meem – the couple divorced in 2014, little over two years after their wedding.
Wilson and Ciara have three children together. Ciara also has a son from a previous relationship. The couple vowed to be celibate until they married.
Trade
The Seattle Seahawks traded Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, Noah Fant, Drew Lock, and Shelby Harris.
The divorce from the Seahawks was messy. Teammates claimed Wilson had ‘checked out’ midway through the 2021 regular season.
Seattle’s hierarchy also said Wilson had initiated the trade, and that he was unhappy with the team firing the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. Other reports indicated Wilson had asked the franchise to fire the head coach and general manager.
Wilson denies the claims from the Seahawks.
Baseball
Russell Wilson played collegiate baseball for the North Carolina State Wolfpack. He hit .282/.384/.415 in college, which led to the Colorado Rockies selecting him in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB Draft.
In the summers of 2010 and 2011, Wilson played for the Rockies in the lower levels of the minor leagues.
In late 2013, the Texas Rangers picked up Wilson in the triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft. He attended Spring Training with the Rangers in 2014 and 2015.
The New York Yankees traded for Wilson in 2018 and sent him to their double-A affiliate. In 2018 spring training, he pinch hit for Aaron Judge in a spring training game, achieving a lifelong dream of wearing the Yankees uniform.
Honours
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Super Bowl champion
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Nine-time Pro Bowler
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Second Team All-Pro
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11-time NFC Offensive Player of the Week
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Three-time Steve Largent Award winner
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Nine-time inclusion in NFL Top 100
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Walter Payton Man of the Year
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Bart Starr Award
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
