Adrian Raquel
This story was published in the May/June issue of ESSENCE.
Throughout his storied tenure in the NFL, Russell Wilson has achieved unimaginable success on the gridiron. His dynamic skill set and unique leadership qualities have established him as a prominent figure not only in football but also in the fields of entrepreneurship, philanthropy and entertainment. By refusing to be bound by traditional constraints, Wilson helped break the mold of the modern sports star. In the process, he blazed a new trail for generations of Black athletes to come.
Born in Cincinnati and raised in Richmond, Wilson was an active child, playing basketball, football, and baseball. “I’ve loved sports all my life,” says the 35-year-old. “The love came from my father and brother and from playing against them.” He excelled in high school track and field and was drafted by the professional baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, but enrolled at North Carolina State University. I decided to further my education. 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 encouraged him to focus on football.
“I think this decision was just God's perfect timing for me,” Wilson explains. By focusing solely on football, he was able to hone his skills as a passer, which helped him excel at Wisconsin. He led the Badgers to an 11-3 record and a Big Ten Championship. In 2012, he declared for the NFL Draft and was ultimately selected by the Seattle Seahawks as a third-round pick. Wilson showed promise while playing in Division I Athletics, but it wasn't until the following years that the world fully realized the enormity of his potential.
During his career with the Seahawks, Wilson was selected to the Pro Bowl nine times and had several record-breaking seasons, including a victory in Super Bowl XLVIII. In 2019, he captivated audiences with a series of game-breaking passes and an uncanny ability to improvise outside the pocket, leading people to coin the phrase “Let Russ do the cooking.” During his 10 years behind center in Seattle, Wilson emerged as one of the best players in football. More importantly, his dominance is a reminder that Black quarterbacks have more than physical attributes, pushed by scouts, coaches, executives and the media since the league's founding more than a century ago. It became a counterpoint to the conventional discourse.
Before Wilson burst onto the scene, signal-callers of color like Doug Williams, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick at one time dominated the field, something Wilson recognizes and respects. The fact is that “I think about the people in front of me,” he says. “But when I came into the league, we only had a few guys. It was Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, myself, and a few others.” By the end of his second year in the NFL, Wilson held the Lombardi Trophy, making him the second black quarterback to accomplish it. The victory was an unforgettable personal accomplishment, but it also signaled a shift in perceptions of black men in his position.
“I think being able to go to back-to-back Super Bowls and win one of them opened a lot of doors,” he says. “Now we have guys like Patrick Mahomes winning championships. We're the only ones right now, but there's going to be a lot more to come.” Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, to name a few. The emergence of quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, CJ Stroud, and others signals a new era of football and provides a glimpse into what trends the sport is headed towards.
“What I like to see is players getting drafted early and a lot of teams these days playing black quarterbacks,” Wilson says. “It's league-wide and shows how the National Football League is evolving, changing and starting to break down barriers. One of the greatest blessings of my career so far has been the ability to help others I consider myself fortunate to be able to open doors for others because of what he did for me.”
This offseason, the future Hall of Famer signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers to play for the team's trailblazing Black coach, Mike Tomlin, after a short and complicated tenure with the Denver Broncos. did. This is a new beginning for Wilson's life and career, and he is grateful for everything he has achieved so far. “Playing 13 years in the NFL was a dream come true,” he said, adding: “Playing in the NFL for 13 years was a dream come true. It's one of the greatest gifts in the world to be able to stand alongside him and try to accomplish all the goals that I want to accomplish with the Steelers organization and what it represents for the NFL.”
In addition to his brilliance on the field, Wilson was a true star off the field as well. Through his philanthropy and community service, he improves the quality of life for the underprivileged and disenfranchised. His unwavering dedication was instilled in him from an early age by his parents. “My mom and dad, I got to see them both give back in different ways,” he recalls. “My father was a lawyer. He helped so many people. My mother was a nurse, and as Jesus said in John 13:14, If I, your teacher, wash your feet, you should wash the feet of others, too.'' He had a slave's heart. And I strongly believe that it is God's gift that allows us to give back and serve: 'To whom much is given, much will be required.' ”
After the death of his father in 2010, Wilson founded the Why Not You Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering today's youth, and for his efforts was named the 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. He has received philanthropic honors such as the National Award of the Year and the Bart Starr Award. His humanitarian spirit extends to his companies, including the Goodman Brand men's clothing and footwear line, his business coaching company Limitless Minds, and Russell Wilson's Quarterback Academy. Wilson also wanted to create stories that uplifted and entertained audiences, so he founded Why Not You Productions with his wife, Grammy Award-winning singer Ciara.
Wilson is ambitious, but family is the pillar of everything he does. His relationship with Ciara, to whom he has been married since 2016, is an inspiration to those who celebrate black love. The key to their success, he says, is prayer. “When I asked her to marry me and she said yes, I said, 'Can I pray before we get married?' Always keep God at the center of everything you do. I want to,” he recalls. “And I think what oozes well from our love is, listen, love is never perfect. But we put God first and pray for each other.” I will keep trying to keep going. We have four beautiful children that we get to raise every day, which is the greatest gift in the world.”
Wilson's faith is his foundation and has carried him through triumphs, trials, and everything in between. It allows him to be who he is, while also making him want to get better with each passing day.
“I think it keeps you grounded,” he says of his belief system. “It allows you to always know who God is, what He has already done, and what He is going to do for you. It allows you to know that there is always a greater purpose in life. It's about knowing. It's really important. It inspires me to be the best version of myself so that I can inspire others.”
credit
Photographer: Adrian Raquel
Styled by: jean michael quamy
Photo production credits: Grooming: Pircilla Pae with Papatui at A-Frame Agency
nail: Temeka Jackson uses The GelBottle at A-Frame Agency
Set design: MHS Artist Bette Adams
Lighting director: sebastian johnson
Photography assistant: lance williams
Digitech: Lenny Y.E. Dodge
Retouch: Picture gallery + small darkroom
Market Editor: Aidan Palermo
Stylist assistant: Andrew McFarland and Laura Sheron Hackett
tailor: Ivy Isakovic and Macy Izakovic
Production manager: Alaura Wong
Production assistant: Cecilia Alvarez Blackwell
position: NYA Studio
Special thanks: L'Ermitage Beverly Hills & Short Stories Hotel
