RUSSELL WILSON MADE HISTORY BY BECOMING THE SECOND AFRICAN AMERICAN AND THE YOUNGEST QUARTERBACK TO WIN A SUPER BOWL

Russell Wilson, 25, made history by becoming the second African American and the youngest quarterback to Win a Super Bowl as he led the Seattle Seahawks to a dominating 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. He joins Doug Williams, formerly of the Washington NFL franchise as the only Black men to win a Super Bowl as starting quarterback.

Wilson signed a four-year, $2.99 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks on May 7, 2012 and was named the team’s starting quarterback on August 26, 2012. In 2012, Wilson led the Seahawks to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs and was voted the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. In 2013, he led the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl appearance since 2005.

Wilson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in Richmond, Virginia, the son of Harrison Benjamin Wilson III, a lawyer, and Tammy T. Wilson, a legal nurse consultant. He has an older brother, Harrison IV, and a younger sister, Anna. Wilson started playing football with his dad and brother at the age of four.

Wilson is multiracial. His racial background is mostly African American, though he also has some Native American ancestry. His great-great-grandfather was a slave to a Confederate colonel and was freed after the American Civil War. Wilson’s grandfather, Harrison B. Wilson Jr., is a former president of Norfolk State University who played football and basketball at Kentucky State University. His father played football and baseball at Dartmouth and was a wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers preseason squad in 1980. Wilson’s brother played football and baseball at the University of Richmond, and his sister is considered one of the top high school basketball prospects in the country.

Wilson’s father died on June 9, 2010 at age 55 due to complications from diabetes.

Wilson’s Seahawks opened the 2013 season with the first 4-0 start in franchise history, giving up their first loss to the Colts in week 5.The Seahawks then went on a 7- game winning streak, culminating in a 34-7 victory over the Saints in week 13 in which Wilson threw 3 touchdown passes and earned his second NFC Offensive Player of the Week award. Over the next 3 weeks the Seahawks would suffer 2 divisional losses to the 49ers and Cardinals, but defeated the Rams in week 17 to finish the season with a 13-3 record, the NFC West title, and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Wilson was named to his second Pro Bowl on December 27, 2013.

Story & Photo by Associated Press