Learn more about Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson in this edition of Five Fast Facts.
1. Wilson signed a one-year contract with the Steelers during free agency. Wilson, who will be entering his 13th NFL season, spent the last two years with the Denver Broncos following a trade from the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson spent the first 10 years of his career with the Seahawks after they drafted him in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
2. Wilson is a nine-time Pro Bowl selection (2012-15, 2017-21), a second team Associated Press All-Pro selection (2019) and a Super Bowl champion, leading the Seahawks to a win in Super Bowl XLVIII. He became the third-youngest quarterback in NFL history to win the Super Bowl, leading Seattle to a 43-8 win over Denver.
3. In 12 seasons, Wilson has played in 188 games, starting all of them. He has led his teams to 116 regular season wins since 2012, ranking him first among active quarterbacks. He has completed 3,668 of 5,665 passes for 43,653 yards and 334 touchdowns. Wilson has started 16 postseason games, completing 275 of 451 passes for 3,786 yards with 25 touchdowns. His 43,653 passing yards rank 19th on the all-time NFL list, one of only four active quarterbacks in the top 20. His 334 touchdowns rank 13th on the NFL's all-time touchdown list, and he reached 300 passing touchdowns in 168 games, seventh all-time. He also ranks second all-time, behind only Peyton Manning, for most touchdown passes in his first 12 seasons.
4. Wilson is a former Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year recipient (2020), the same award Cameron Heyward won this past year. Wilson also received the Bart Starr Award in 2022, which honors a player for his outstanding character, integrity and leadership on and off the field. Minkah Fitzpatrick won the same award last year. Wilson and his wife, Grammy Award winning artist Ciara, work together on the Why Not You Foundation, which is dedicated to education, children's health, fighting poverty, and empowering today's youth to lead with a why not you attitude.
5. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007 who wanted him as an infielder. He instead attended North Carolina State, where he played football and baseball. He was again drafted in 2010, this time by the Colorado Rockies where he spent time in the minor leagues before opting for a career in the NFL.
