Russell Wilson's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Russell Wilson. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

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.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2004: Ben Roethlisberger's Rookie Record

In 2004, Ben Roethlisberger set a rookie record with a passer rating of 98.1. This record was later broken by Russell Wilson in 2012.

2004: Patriots returning to the Super Bowl

The Seahawks became the first defending champion to return to the Super Bowl since the 2004 Patriots.

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.

2008: PapaJohns.com Bowl Performance and Knee Sprain

In the 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl against Rutgers, Russell Wilson threw for 186 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for 46 yards before halftime. He suffered a knee sprain and NC State lost the game. Over the course of the season, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) named him the first-team All-ACC quarterback.

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.

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: Eli Manning's Fourth Quarter Touchdown Record

In 2011, Eli Manning set the record for most fourth quarter touchdowns in a single season with 15.

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: 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.

2012: Drafted into NFL by Seattle Seahawks

In 2012, Russell Wilson was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the NFL draft, tying the rookie record for most passing touchdowns and was named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year.

December 27, 2013: Second Pro Bowl Selection

On December 27, 2013, Russell Wilson was named to his second Pro Bowl.

2013: Performance-Based Pay Bonus and NFL Top 100 Ranking

At the conclusion of the 2013 season, Russell Wilson received a bonus of $222,000 via the NFL's Performance-Based Pay program. Additionally, he was ranked 51st by his peers in the NFL Top 100 Players of 2013.

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.

2013: Performance-Based Pay Bonus for 2013 Season

Russell Wilson received a bonus of $169,141.73 for the 2013 season through the NFL's Performance-Based Pay program.

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.

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.

2014: NFL Top 100 Players of 2014 Ranking

Russell Wilson was ranked 20th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014.

December 22, 2015: Third Pro Bowl Selection

On December 22, 2015, Russell Wilson was named to his third Pro Bowl.

2015: NFL Top 100 Ranking

Russell Wilson was ranked 22nd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.

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.

2016: NFL Top 100 Players Ranking

Russell Wilson was ranked 17th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

December 19, 2017: Fourth Pro Bowl Selection

On December 19, 2017, Russell Wilson was named to his fourth Pro Bowl.

2017: NFL Top 100 Players Ranking

Russell Wilson was ranked 24th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

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: 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.

August 2019: Seattle Sounders FC Ownership

In August 2019, Russell Wilson and Ciara joined the ownership group of Seattle Sounders FC. The Sounders later won the 2019 MLS Cup, crediting Wilson as part owner.

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: 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.

October 1, 2020: Wilson named NFC Offensive Player of the Month

On October 1, 2020, Russell Wilson was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for his performance in September.

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.

2020: Wilson Ranked 2nd on NFL Top 100 Players

In 2020, Russell Wilson was ranked 2nd on the NFL Top 100 Players list, which was the highest ranking of his career at that point.

2021: Wilson Ranked 12th on NFL Top 100 Players of 2021

In 2021, Russell Wilson was ranked 12th on the NFL Top 100 Players list, the third-highest ranking of his career.

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.

Why Not You?

Check it on Amazon

May 2022: Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award

In May 2022, Russell Wilson and Ciara received the Paul G. Allen Humanitarian Award for their philanthropic and humanitarian contributions to Seattle.

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: Received the Bart Starr Award

In 2022, Russell Wilson received the Bart Starr Award.

2022: Wilson ranked 61st on NFL Top 100 Players of 2022

In 2022, Russell Wilson was ranked 61st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

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.

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.