On Monday, it was reported Russell Wilson would spend the 2026 season as an analyst for CBS. That news obviously suggested his playing days were over, and that has now been confirmed.
On Wednesday, Wilson posted a video to social media announcing his retirement. The 37-year-old initially expressed a desire to play in 2026, and he received a suggestion from the Jets. As a substitute of serving as a backup for one more campaign, though, Wilson will turn his attention to broadcasting.
Today’s announcement marks the expected end to a playing profession which began with tempered expectations. As a third-round pick, Wilson was removed from certain to function a capable long-term alternative for Matt Hasselbeck, whose Seattle tenure led to 2010. As things turned out, though, the franchise enjoyed a sustained run of success under head coach Pete Carroll. His work and that of the ‘Legion of Boom’ on defense was in fact critical to the Seahawks’ strong play, but Wilson was a foundational player as well.
Taking over QB1 duties as a rookie and never losing them over the course of his time within the Emerald City, Wilson helped lead Seattle to eight playoff appearances. That stretch included back-to-back trips to the Super Bowl; the Seahawks comfortably won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Broncos and nearly got here out on top the next yr against the Patriots. Replicating those deep postseason runs proved to be a challenge Carroll’s Seahawks were unable to fulfill, but Wilson continued to supply the team with strong play over a decade in Seattle.
From the beginning of his profession, Wilson was recognized as a perennial Pro Bowler, earning invitations to the event in nine of 10 seasons with the Seahawks. He also earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2019 after ending the yr with 31 touchdowns to simply five interceptions despite getting sacked a league-leading 48 times that season. He departed Seattle because the franchise-leader in passing yards, touchdowns, and several other other statistical categories.
Wilson’s time with the Seahawks got here to an end after the 2021 NFL season, when he was packaged with a fourth-round pick and shipped off to Denver in exchange for 2 first- and second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, defensive tackle Shelby Harris, and tight end Noah Fant. Over two years with the Broncos, Westbrook struggled to provide as he followed up his only losing season as a starter in Seattle with two more in Denver.
After getting released, Wilson signed with the Steelers, going 6-5 as a starter after missing the primary six games of the season and earning Pro Bowl honors one last time. He began the next yr as a starter for the Giants, before ultimately ceding his job to Jaxson Dart. He did not exit on top, but for a third-round quarterback, winning a Super Bowl, making 10 Pro Bowls, winning the Walter Payton Man of the Yr award, and cementing himself as a top player in Seahawks history is a fairly good résumé. He’ll look now to expand his accomplishments on air.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.