Longtime QB Russell Wilson announces retirement

Longtime NFL quarterback Russell Wilson announced his retirement on Wednesday at age 37.

Wilson made his announcement during a three-minute, 16-second video posted to social media.

The 10-time Pro Bowl selection titled the announcement “Thank You, Football, Love, #3.”

Wilson said he will be working for CBS this season. The NFL Today pregame show has reportedly settled on him to replace Matt Ryan, now the president of football for the Atlanta Falcons.

Wilson played 10 of his 14 NFL seasons (2012-21) with the Seattle Seahawks and led the squad to the 2013 season Super Bowl title. The Seahawks lost in the Super Bowl the following season.

Wilson threw 292 of his 353 career touchdown passes with the Seahawks. He started all 158 games he played in for Seattle, including each game in 2012 after being a third-round draft pick under then-coach Pete Carroll.

“To coach Carroll, thanks for taking a chance on a young, 5-11 Black kid from Richmond, Virginia, that was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL,” Wilson said. “We knew what winning was like. And to every teammate I’ve had the privilege of sharing the locker room with, thank you for the sacrifices, the brotherhood, the memories. None of this is possible without you.”

Though Wilson played for four teams, the city of Seattle was the only town that got a shout-out from Wilson.

“To Seattle, you raised me,” Wilson said. “Not just all the wins and crazy-loud games, but also the forever memories after we won the Super Bowl. … But even more important, the kids at Seattle Children’s Hospital, you gave me hope and belief in a better tomorrow. And hopefully I did the same for you.”

After the 2021 season, Wilson was traded to Denver. The Broncos went 11-19 in his starts over the next two seasons. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 and started three games for the New York Giants last season before rookie Jaxson Dart became the starter.

Wilson passed for 46,966 yards and 114 interceptions in 205 games (202 starts). He also rushed for 5,568 yards and 31 touchdowns, making him the lone player in NFL history to top both 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards.

Wilson was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2020.

Wilson is now ready to talk about football as opposed to playing the game.

“As I enter this next chapter with CBS Sports and The NFL Today, I’m so blessed to continue doing what I love most — being around the greatest game in the world,” Wilson said.

–Field Level Media