Russell Wilson Hangs Up Cleats at 37

Former Seattle Seahawks signal-caller Russell Wilson has officially retired from the NFL at the age of 37. The 10-year veteran, who spent the majority of his 14-season career with Seattle, will immediately transition into the broadcasting world after securing a position as an analyst for CBS.

Wilson’s tenure in Seattle defined an era for the franchise. Drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the 5-foot-11 quarterback quickly claimed the starting job and was honored as the NFL’s Rookie of the Year in his debut season. Under head coach Pete Carroll, Wilson guided the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl victory in 2014. The following year, the team nearly achieved a back-to-back championship but fell short in a narrow defeat in the league’s final game.

Reflecting on his journey, Wilson expressed deep gratitude to those who supported him. "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. "And to every team-mate I've had the privilege of sharing the locker room with, thank you for the sacrifices, the brotherhood, the memories. None of this is possible without you."

Statistically, Wilson’s impact was profound. He accounted for 292 of his 353 career touchdown passes while in Seattle and led the league in touchdown throws in 2017. Despite this individual success, the Seahawks failed to reach the playoffs in only two of his seasons there.

Wilson’s final four years involved stints with three different franchises. In 2022, the Denver Broncos acquired him via a significant trade, but released him in 2024. He subsequently joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he earned his 10th Pro Bowl nod while leading the team to the postseason. However, he departed after a five-game losing streak to close the season. For the majority of the following season, he served as the backup quarterback for the New York Giants.

Wilson concludes his professional career with 46,966 passing yards, placing him 16th on the all-time list, and 353 touchdown passes, which ranks him 12th historically. Additionally, he rushed for 5,568 yards and 31 touchdowns, distinguishing himself as the only player in NFL history to surpass both 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-04 07:18:04 UTC