Russell Wilson

American football player Russell Wilson didn't allow his short stature to stop him from becoming a superstar quarterback. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, he spent his childhood in Richmond, Virginia. A multi-sport star in high school, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball after his senior year, but elected to attend North Carolina State.

During his time at Raleigh, he played both football and baseball. Despite performing well in football, earning All-Athletic Coast Conference first team honors after his red-shirt freshman year and second team as a junior, it was considered unlikely that he would be a professional football prospect because of his height, listed at 5 feet, 11-inches. Despite only playing baseball part-time for the Wolfpack, Wilson was drafted after his third year in college by the Colorado Rockies in the fourth round of the MLB draft.

He played minor league baseball in 2010, which didn't sit well with his head football coach, Tom O'Brien. Having already graduated from NC State, he elected to transfer to Wisconsin to play his senior season of football. The move proved fortuitous. He lead the Badgers to a Big 10 Conference championship and his national profile took a leap forward.

Emboldened by the successful end of his collegiate career, he elected to forgo baseball and concentrate on becoming a professional football player. He was taken by the National Football League's Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 draft. Seattle had recently signed free agent quarterback Matt Flynn, so the expectation was that Wilson would be given the chance to learn as a backup. His play during training camp his rookie year, though, convinced head coach Pete Carroll to start the young passer.

He experienced success almost immediately, leading Seattle to the NFL playoffs and playing in his first Pro Bowl. In his second season, playing with a defense that was among the best in league history, Wilson lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl, where they authored an unexpected upset of the Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos, winning 43-8.

With the win, Wilson became just the second African-American NFL quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl. Seattle returned to the big game but lost in memorable fashion. Wilson drove his team for a potential game-winning touchdown against Tom Brady and the Patriots, but threw an interception at the goal line. New England would win the game 28-24.

Wilson continued finding personal success over the next several seasons, being named to four more Pro Bowls and breaking nearly every passing record for the Seattle franchise. His personal life became an unexpected focus when his stance against premarital sex after he became engaged to R&B singer Ciara, whom he went on to marry in 2016.

In 2019, he signed a four-year, $140-million contract extension with the Seahawks, becoming the highest paid player in the NFL.