Russell Wilson announced his retirement from the NFL at age 37 on June 3, 2026, via a social media video. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] The quarterback played 14 NFL seasons, spending the majority with the Seattle Seahawks before stints with the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants. [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Wilson was drafted in the third round (75th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks out of NC State. [1, 2, 5, 7] He led the Seahawks to their first-ever Super Bowl win with a dominant 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII during the 2013 season. The following year, Wilson again took Seattle to the Super Bowl but narrowly lost. [1, 2, 5, 7]
Over his career, Wilson was selected to 10 Pro Bowls, including his last with the Pittsburgh Steelers after joining them in 2024 following his release from Denver. [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7] He became the only NFL player with at least 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards, finishing with 46,966 passing yards—ranking 16th all-time—and 353 touchdown passes, ranking 12th all-time. [1, 4, 5, 6, 7]
Wilson was also known for his mobility, rushing for 5,568 yards and 31 touchdowns. [1] He holds a career record of 121 wins, 80 losses, and 1 tie in 205 games, with a 64.6% pass completion percentage. [7]
At 5 feet 11 inches, Wilson was considered undersized for an NFL quarterback but credited former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for giving him a chance. "To coach Carroll, thanks for taking a chance on a young, 5-11 black kid from Richmond, Virginia, that was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL," Wilson said. [1, 5] He remains the shortest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. [5]
Wilson spent his final NFL season in 2025 as a backup quarterback for the New York Giants after two seasons with the Broncos and one with the Steelers. [1]
Wilson thanked his wife, singer Ciara, who posted a heartfelt tribute calling him "The best in the world" and her "greatest inspiration." Wilson responded, "Thank you, C. I thank you, Ciara, for being my greatest blessing, my best friend and my partner through it all. None of this journey called life would have been the same without you." [7]
Wilson announced he will join CBS Sports as an analyst, replacing Matt Ryan on the Sunday NFL pregame show "The NFL Today." "As I enter this next chapter with CBS Sports and 'The NFL Today,' I'm so blessed to continue doing what I love most - being around the greatest game in the world," he said. [1, 4, 5, 7]
Wilson’s retirement brings to a close a remarkable career marked by statistical milestones and championship success. His transition to broadcasting is expected to begin with the upcoming NFL season.
