Russell Wilson has been playing at an MVP level for his entire NFL career, yet has somehow never won the coveted award. The Seattle Seahawks quarterback is almost always in the conversation thanks to the "Let Russ cook" mantra. Though, the kitchen has a tendency to clear out in the second half of the season
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Whether or not Wilson finally wins the award at some point, he can take solace in knowing he's getting paid at an MVP level, through both his contract with the Seahawks as well as his various endorsement deals.
Early Life and College Career
Russell Carrington Wilson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to parents Harrison Wilson and Tammy Wilson. Growing up, Wilson starred in both football and baseball. After graduating from high school in Richmond, Virginia, Wilson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 41st round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft. Despite that, Wilson opted to attend North Carolina State University.
Wilson redshirted his first year at NC State, but managed to take over as the starting QB in 2008 as a redshirt freshman. He enjoyed a stellar season that saw him earn All-ACC First-Team honors, the first time in ACC history a freshman made the first team.
The mobile quarterback had two more solid seasons in Raleigh before graduating. In 2010, Wilson was once again selected in the MLB Draft, this time by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round, and surprisingly announced his decision to attend Spring Training.
Ultimately, rather than continue his pursuit of baseball, Wilson decided to return to football and committed to play for the University of Wisconsin in 2011. Wilson led the Badgers to a Big Ten Championship victory and a Rose Bowl appearance, earning himself an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine.
NFL Career
The American football player was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Wilson was immediately named the starting quarterback and led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance as a rookie. His prolific campaign earned him a Pro Bowl bid, but he lost out to Washington Football Team quarterback Robert Griffin III in the NFL Rookie of the Year race. However, he did win the Pepsi Rookie of the Year, which is given to the top rookie regardless of position.
In 2013, Wilson starred again, throwing 26 passing touchdowns and just 9 interceptions while leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl XLVIII victory against the Denver Broncos.
The Seahawks would return to the Super Bowl the following season but lost in dramatic fashion to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Throughout his ten years in the league, Wilson has featured in 16 playoff games and two Super Bowls. He's also made the Pro Bowl in eight separate seasons and has never endured a losing season, cementing himself as one of the truly great NFL quarterbacks.
Russell Wilson Contract History
In 2015, the Seahawks and Wilson agreed to a new four-year contract extension, which saw the NFL star pocket $87 million with $61.5 million in guaranteed money. While the Seahawks didn't win another Super Bowl throughout the duration of the contract, Wilson continued to shine and the franchise made the playoffs in three out of four seasons.
After three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, the Seahawks re-upped with Wilson once again in the 2019 offseason, this time making him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history, at least until Patrick Mahomes signed his $503 million deal with the Chiefs.
The new contract has Wilson locked down at a cost of $140 million across four seasons, with a $65 million signing bonus and $107 in guaranteed money. The $65 million signing bonus was also a record, besting the $57.5 million given to Aaron Rodgers when he signed his new deal with the Green Bay Packers.
The Super Bowl champion is the fifth-highest paid player in the league behind Mahomes, Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott and Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson.
Russell Wilson Endorsements
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Russell Wilson quickly rose to stardom, becoming one of the most popular NFL players in the United States. With that influx of popularity came a wave of endorsement deals which have helped pad his bank account.
Per Forbes, Wilson is linked with some major brands including Nike, Bose, Amazon, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Alaska Airlines and more. In addition to his lofty endorsement deals, Wilson also started a fashion line called Good Man Brand.
Russell Wilson Personal Life
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While Wilson's fame casts a rather large shadow, his wife is certainly capable of holding her own. Wilson is married to pop singer Ciara, having tied the knot in 2016. The couple have two children together, daughter Sienna Princess Wilson and son Win Harrison Wilson.
Wilson was previously married to his high school sweetheart, Ashton Meem, though he and his first wife divorced in 2014.
The American quarterback has a massive social media following, boasting 5.1 million followers on Instagram. Wilson frequently promotes his foundation, the Why Not You Foundation, on the platform and offered glimpses into his life with his family during the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 outbreak.
Russell Wilson Net Worth
So, just how much money has Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson pocketed throughout his prolific NFL career? According to Celebrity Net Worth, Wilson has an estimated net worth of $135 million. Wilson is raking in a cool $35 million from the NFL season, and his family's wealth is even greater considering his wife Ciara's estimated net worth is $20 million.
It comes as no surprise that Russ has amassed a fortune throughout his NFL career, and while he's still a long way from retirement, the Seahawks QB won't need to worry about money when he does decide to call it quits.
