Career Timeline of Russell Wilson: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Russell Wilson built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Russell Wilson is a prominent American football quarterback currently playing for the New York Giants. He's best known for his successful tenure with the Seattle Seahawks, where he earned nine Pro Bowl selections and led the team to their Super Bowl XLVIII victory. Wilson is celebrated as one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history, recognized for his ability to both pass effectively and make significant plays with his running ability.
2005: Football achievements as a junior
In 2005, as a junior at Collegiate School, Russell Wilson threw for 3,287 passing yards and 40 passing touchdowns and rushed for 634 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. He was named an all-district, all-region, and all-state player and was twice named the Richmond Times-Dispatch Player of the Year.
2005: Seahawks playoff win
In the Divisional Round, the Seahawks defeated the Carolina Panthers, making the Seahawks the first defending Super Bowl Champion to win a playoff game since the 2005 Patriots.
2007: Wilson Drafted by Baltimore Orioles in 2007 MLB Draft
In 2007, after graduating from high school, Russell Wilson was selected by the Baltimore Orioles as the fifth pick in the 41st round of the MLB draft. The Orioles offered him a $350,000 signing bonus.
2008: Led NC State to a Winning Record
In 2008, Russell Wilson initially split time at quarterback, but led the team to a 4-3 record in the regular season. During a win over East Carolina, Wilson threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
2008: Wilson Joins NC State Wolfpack Baseball Team
In 2008, Russell Wilson joined the NC State Wolfpack baseball team.
2008: Played football and baseball for NC State Wolfpack
In 2008, Russell Wilson played college football and baseball for the NC State Wolfpack.
2009: Broke NCAA Record
In 2009, Russell Wilson broke Andre Woodson's all-time NCAA record of 325 consecutive pass attempts without an interception against Gardner-Webb. He finished the regular season with 3,027 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
2009: Wilson Plays for Gastonia Grizzlies
In the summer of 2009, Russell Wilson played for the Gastonia Grizzlies, a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League.
June 8, 2010: Wilson Drafted by Colorado Rockies
On June 8, 2010, Russell Wilson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round (140th pick overall) of the MLB draft.
2010: Played college baseball and minor league baseball
In 2010, Russell Wilson continued playing college football and baseball for NC State and played minor league baseball for the Tri-City Dust Devils.
2010: Wilson's Time with the NC State Wolfpack Baseball Team Ends
Russell Wilson was a member of the NC State Wolfpack baseball team from 2008 to 2010.
January 2011: Wilson announced he would report to spring training
In January 2011, Russell Wilson announced that he would report to spring training with the Colorado Rockies organization.
April 29, 2011: Granted Release from Football Scholarship
On April 29, 2011, Russell Wilson was granted a release from his football scholarship with one year of eligibility left at NC State.
June 27, 2011: Committed to Wisconsin
On June 27, 2011, Russell Wilson committed to Wisconsin for the 2011 season and in the season opener against UNLV, Wilson passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns in a 51–17 victory.
December 2011: Big Ten Championship Game MVP
In December 2011, Russell Wilson led the Badgers to a 42-39 win over the Michigan State Spartans in the inaugural Big Ten Championship Game and was named the game's Grange-Griffin MVP. He was also named a third team All-American by Yahoo! Sports and finished ninth in Heisman Trophy voting.
2011: Played college baseball and minor league baseball
In 2011, Russell Wilson played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers and played minor league baseball for the Asheville Tourists.
2011: Failed to Receive NFL Combine Invitation
In 2011, despite efforts by NC State coaches, Russell Wilson failed to receive an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine.
2011: Wilson Plays for Asheville Tourists
In the summer of 2011, Russell Wilson played 61 games for the Asheville Tourists, the Class A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.
2011: Wilson's last appearance in professional baseball until 2018
Russell Wilson's appearance in a Spring Training game on March 2, 2018 was his first appearance in a professional baseball game since 2011.
January 2, 2012: 2012 Rose Bowl Performance
On January 2, 2012, in the 2012 Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks, Russell Wilson had 19 pass completions on 25 attempts for 296 yards, 18 rushing yards, and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) as the Badgers lost by a score of 45–38.
January 2012: Wilson decides to pursue NFL career
In January 2012, Russell Wilson informed the Rockies that he would be pursuing a career in the NFL and would not report to spring training for the 2012 season.
January 16, 2012: Training for NFL Scouting Combine
On January 16, 2012, Russell Wilson began training for the NFL Scouting Combine at the IMG Madden Football Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
January 28, 2012: Completed College Career
On January 28, 2012, Russell Wilson completed his college football career at the 2012 Senior Bowl.
April 11, 2012: Height Concerns for NFL Draft
On April 11, 2012, ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden said, "The only issue with Russell Wilson is his height. That might be the reason he's not picked in the first couple rounds."
April 26, 2012: Wilson Chooses Marketing Agency
On April 26, 2012, Russell Wilson announced he had chosen French/West/Vaughan as his marketing, public relations, and endorsements agency.
May 7, 2012: Signed Contract with Seahawks
On May 7, 2012, Russell Wilson signed a four-year, $2.99 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
August 11, 2012: Preseason Debut
On August 11, 2012, Russell Wilson made his preseason debut against the Tennessee Titans.
August 2012: Wilson's Endorsements and Advertisements
Since being named the starting quarterback of the Seahawks in August 2012, Russell Wilson has appeared in advertisements for several brands.
August 26, 2012: Named Starting Quarterback
On August 26, 2012, Russell Wilson was named the starting quarterback for the first regular season game after competing with Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson for the position.
September 9, 2012: Regular Season Debut
On September 9, 2012, Russell Wilson made his regular season debut in a road loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He completed 18 of 34 passing attempts for 153 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
November 10, 2012: Record Broken
On November 10, 2012, Russell Wilson's record was broken by Louisiana Tech quarterback Colby Cameron.
December 2012: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month
Russell Wilson earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month honors for December 2012 after the Seahawks went 5–0 and he had a passer rating of 115.2.
2012: Charles Ray III Diabetes Association Ambassador
In 2012, Russell Wilson became the National Ambassador for the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association, with proceeds from his football camp going to the association.
2012: Rookie Season Success
In 2012, Russell Wilson concluded the regular season with a 100.0 passer rating, ranking fourth in the NFL and surpassing Ben Roethlisberger's rookie record from 2004. He matched Peyton Manning's rookie record for touchdown passes with 26, also rushing for 489 yards and four touchdowns. His mobility drew comparisons to Fran Tarkenton.
December 12, 2013: Wilson Acquired by Texas Rangers
On December 12, 2013, Russell Wilson was acquired from the Colorado Rockies by the Texas Rangers in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft.
December 27, 2013: Second Pro Bowl Selection
On December 27, 2013, Russell Wilson was named to his second Pro Bowl.
2013: "Invested with Russell" Program
In 2013, Russell Wilson partnered with Russell Investments for its "Invested with Russell" program, which donated $3,000 to Wilson's charitable foundation for every touchdown he scored.
2013: Pro Bowl Selection and Performance
In 2013, Russell Wilson was chosen as an alternate for the Pro Bowl, substituting for Matt Ryan. During the Pro Bowl game, Wilson completed 8 out of 10 passes for 98 yards, achieved a 147.1 rating, and scored three touchdowns without any interceptions.
January 19, 2014: NFC Championship Victory and Super Bowl XLVIII Berth
On January 19, 2014, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship with a score of 23–17, securing their place in Super Bowl XLVIII.
September 21, 2014: Overtime Victory Against the Denver Broncos
On September 21, 2014, Russell Wilson led the Seahawks on an 80-yard touchdown drive in overtime, defeating the Denver Broncos 26–20 in a Super Bowl XLVIII rematch.
October 6, 2014: Monday Night Football Rushing Record
On October 6, 2014, against the Washington Redskins, Russell Wilson set a new Monday Night Football record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game with 122. This also marked a single-game franchise record for a Seahawks quarterback.
December 21, 2014: Career-High Passing Yards Against the Arizona Cardinals
On December 21, 2014, Russell Wilson threw for a then-career-high 339 yards with two touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks gained a franchise-record 596 yards in the game, winning 35-6.
2014: Wilson Becomes Part-Owner and Endorser of Eat the Ball
In 2014, Russell Wilson became a part-owner and endorser of Eat the Ball, a European bread company.
2014: "Invested with Russell" Program Continues
In 2014, Russell Wilson continued his partnership with Russell Investments for its "Invested with Russell" program, which donated $3,000 to Wilson's charitable foundation for every touchdown he scored.
July 31, 2015: Contract Extension with the Seahawks
On July 31, 2015, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks agreed to a four-year, $87.6 million contract extension, making him the second-highest-paid player in the NFL at the time.
December 22, 2015: Third Pro Bowl Selection
On December 22, 2015, Russell Wilson was named to his third Pro Bowl.
2015: Appeared in 'Entourage' and Hosted Kids' Choice Sports
In 2015, Russell Wilson appeared in the film 'Entourage' and hosted the Kids' Choice Sports on Nickelodeon.
2015: Wilson endorses Luvo and Reliant Recovery Water
In 2015, Russell Wilson began endorsing Luvo, a frozen food company, and Reliant Recovery Water.
February 29, 2016: Wilson Launches Good Man Brand
On February 29, 2016, Russell Wilson launched Good Man Brand, a clothing line which he co-founded.
August 2016: Why Not You Foundation Donation
In August 2016, Russell Wilson's Why Not You Foundation raised $1,060,005 for the Seattle Children's Hospital's Strong Against Cancer initiative.
August 2016: Wilson partners with Juice Press
In August 2016, it was announced that Russell Wilson had partnered with Juice Press to open the company's first Seattle franchise.
November 14, 2016: Wilson joins investment group for Seattle sports arena
On November 14, 2016, Russell Wilson announced he had joined Chris Hansen, Wally Walker, and Erik and Pete Nordstrom as partners in the investment group working to bring a new sports arena to Seattle's SoDo neighborhood for potential NBA and NHL teams.
2016: Hosted Kids' Choice Sports
In 2016, Russell Wilson hosted the Kids' Choice Sports on Nickelodeon.
2016: Keynote Speaker at Alma Maters
In 2016, Russell Wilson was the keynote speaker at the commencement address at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
2016: Seahawks 2016 Season
In 2016, Wilson started all 16 games, recorded a career-high 4,219 passing yards, and led the Seahawks to a 10-5-1 record and an NFC West title. However, he also threw five interceptions in a loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks won their Wild Card game but lost in the Divisional Round.
2016: Pro Bowl Offensive MVP
In the 2016 Pro Bowl draft, Russell Wilson was drafted first overall by Team Irvin. In the game, he completed eight of twelve passes for 164 yards, scored three touchdowns, and had no interceptions, earning a 149.3 rating and being named the Pro Bowl offensive MVP.
September 5, 2017: Fifth Consecutive Season as Seahawks Offensive Captain
On September 5, 2017, Russell Wilson was voted as the Seahawks offensive captain for the fifth consecutive season.
September 8, 2017: TraceMe Public Beta Launch
On September 8, 2017, Russell Wilson's fan network platform, TraceMe, launched its public beta and announced $9 million in Series A funding from investors including Jeff Bezos' Bezos Expeditions, Alibaba co-founder Joe Tsai, and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley.
November 20, 2017: Investment in VICIS
On November 20, 2017, Russell Wilson was among the investors when football helmet manufacturer VICIS announced a $7 million investment round.
December 19, 2017: Fourth Pro Bowl Selection
On December 19, 2017, Russell Wilson was named to his fourth Pro Bowl.
2017: Hosted Kids' Choice Sports
In 2017, Russell Wilson hosted the Kids' Choice Sports on Nickelodeon.
February 7, 2018: Wilson Traded to New York Yankees
On February 7, 2018, Russell Wilson was traded from the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees and assigned to the Yankees' Double-A affiliate, the Trenton Thunder.
July 2018: Molecule Investor and Endorser
In July 2018, Russell Wilson became an investor and endorser for Molecule, a mattress company.
September 2018: Wheaties Cereal Box Cover
In September 2018, Russell Wilson was announced as the next athlete to appear on the cover of the Wheaties cereal box.
2018: 2018 Season Performance
During the 2018 season, Wilson was named a captain for the Seahawks. He had notable performances, including three consecutive games with three passing touchdowns in Weeks 5-8 and four touchdowns in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers.
2018: Season Stats and NFL Top 100 Ranking
In 2018, Wilson led the league in touchdown passes with 34. He also led his team in rushing yards (586) and rushing touchdowns (3). Russell Wilson was ranked 11th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
April 16, 2019: Russell Wilson signs contract extension with Seahawks
On April 16, 2019, Russell Wilson signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension to remain with the Seattle Seahawks through the 2023 season, making him the highest paid player in the NFL at the time.
2019: Sounders won MLS Cup
After Russell Wilson purchased his minority stake, the Seattle Sounders won the MLS Cup in 2019.
2019: Wilson's 2019 Season
In 2019, Russell Wilson concluded the season with 4,110 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions, along with 75 carries for 342 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. The Seahawks finished with an 11–5 record, securing a playoff berth as the NFC's #5 seed. Wilson earned a Pro Bowl selection and was named second-team All-Pro quarterback by the AP.
2019: Signed Contract Extension with the Seahawks
In 2019, Russell Wilson signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks, making him the highest-paid NFL player at the time.
2019: Pro Bowl Selection and NFL Top 100 Ranking
In 2019, Russell Wilson was named to the Pro Bowl for the sixth time, replacing Aaron Rodgers. He was ranked 25th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.
January 2020: Chairman of NFL FLAG
In January 2020, Russell Wilson was appointed Chairman of NFL FLAG, focusing on expanding the league domestically and internationally. He also struck a first look deal with Amazon Studios.
March 2020: COVID-19 Meal Donation
In March 2020, Russell Wilson and Ciara partnered with Food Lifeline to donate one million meals to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: Achieved milestone of 30 touchdowns in four seasons
In 2020, Russell Wilson became the third quarterback in NFL history to throw 30 touchdowns in four consecutive seasons.
2020: Wilson's 2020 Season and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
In 2020, Russell Wilson finished the season with 4,212 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. On February 6, a few days after a playoff loss, he was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his community service efforts.
2020: Named Walter Payton Man of the Year
In 2020, Russell Wilson was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year for his philanthropy.
September 2021: Announcement of Children's Book
In September 2021, Russell Wilson and Ciara announced they were writing a children's book called 'Why Not You?'
2021: Keynote Speaker at Alma Mater
In 2021, Russell Wilson was the keynote speaker at the commencement address at North Carolina State University.
March 1, 2022: Release of "Why Not You?"
On March 1, 2022, the children's book 'Why Not You?' co-written by Russell Wilson, Ciara, and JaNay Brown-Wood, was released and became a New York Times bestseller.
March 16, 2022: Russell Wilson traded to the Broncos
On March 16, 2022, Russell Wilson was traded by the Seahawks to the Denver Broncos along with a fourth-round pick in exchange for multiple draft picks and players.
September 1, 2022: Wilson Signs Contract Extension with Broncos
On September 1, 2022, Russell Wilson signed a five-year, $245 million contract extension with the Denver Broncos.
2022: Keynote Speaker at Dartmouth College
In 2022, Russell Wilson was the keynote speaker at Dartmouth College's commencement.
2022: Traded to the Broncos
In 2022, Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos and later signed a five-year, $245 million extension.
2023: Wilson's 2023 Season with the Broncos
During the 2023 season, Russell Wilson had a new head coach, Sean Payton. He achieved a career milestone by becoming the first player in NFL history to rush for 5,000 yards and pass for 40,000 yards. However, he also started 0-3 for the first time in his career.
2023: Benched by the Broncos and Signed with Steelers
Near the end of the 2023 season, Russell Wilson was benched by the Broncos. He was released in the offseason, later signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers and earned his tenth Pro Bowl selection.
2023: Russell Wilson's Contract with Seahawks Through 2023 Season
Russell Wilson's contract extension signed on April 16, 2019, kept him with the Seahawks through the 2023 season.
March 4, 2024: Broncos Announce Wilson's Release
On March 4, 2024, the Denver Broncos announced that Russell Wilson would be released on March 13, at the start of the new league year.
March 15, 2024: Wilson Signs with Pittsburgh Steelers
On March 15, 2024, Russell Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran's minimum of $1.2 million.
March 26, 2025: Wilson Signs with New York Giants
On March 26, 2025, Russell Wilson signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the New York Giants.
2025: Wilson's 2025 Season and Playoff Appearance with Steelers
In 2025, Russell Wilson helped the Steelers reach a 10-3 record and a Wild Card spot. Over 11 regular season games, he had 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns and was named to the 2025 Pro Bowl. He played his first playoff game in four seasons but lost to the Baltimore Ravens.
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