(Photo: The Ringer)
Oftentimes, I look back at certain draft classes and say two things to myself. First, wow, that happened so long ago. Second, this class had some notable names. Over the years, I’ve mentioned the 2011 draft class that gave us Cam Newton, Von Miller, J.J. Watt, and Julio Jones, to name a few. The 2012 class is another one I’ve found myself looking back at. This was the class where Andrew Luck went first overall to the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Griffin III was selected second overall. Some other notable names from this class are Bobby Wagner, Luke Kuechly, Ryan Tannehill, and Stephon Gilmore. In the third round, the Seattle Seahawks drafted a quarterback named Russell Wilson. Here’s how I know I’m old: Gilmore announced his retirement this offseason, Luke Kuechly will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this August, and now Russell has announced his retirement just days after signing a television contract with CBS Sports to join The NFL Today.
I still remember when he first came into the league. He wasn’t asked to do much besides hand the ball off to Marshawn Lynch (except for that one time in the Super Bowl), manage the game, keep moving the chains, and, most importantly, not lose the football game. Because of that, you could label him a game manager early in his career. When I think of Russ, I think of his leadership, and I often called him the “Chris Paul of the NFL.” There are football players who lead by example and those who are vocal leaders, and I can say Russ was a mix of both. When he was asked to take matters into his own hands and throw the ball more, he did it and became one of the best passers in the league. I know Aaron Rodgers was widely regarded as one of the best deep passers of the 2010s, but Russ was just as good. The “moon ball”—where he would lob the ball as high into the air as possible and have it fall perfectly into the hands of his intended receiver—became his trademark. Russ had such a strong feel for the pocket and the quickness to evade pressure. Whether he stayed in the pocket or rolled out, he could make throws on the run, which I felt was when he was at his most dangerous. His mobility was the one thing defenders had to worry about because if they didn’t contain him, he made them pay for it. Russ was so quick, and I knew for a fact that defenders had to expect the unexpected when facing him. I appreciated the patience he displayed and how he never forced the ball if his intended target wasn’t open. Many of his peers referred to him as a magician because of his ability to escape pressure and keep plays alive. I always said he had a knack for making something out of nothing. It was the perfect mix of leadership and a desire to make the best play for his team at all times.
2019 was the best I had ever seen number 3 look. I thought he was the favorite to win MVP that year until Lamar Jackson ran away with the award. Russ played 14 seasons, with the majority of those coming in Seattle. In 2022, he was traded to the Denver Broncos and spent two seasons in the Mile High City. He then signed a free-agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and last season, he was a member of the New York Giants. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion. Congratulations on a solid career, Russ, and I wish you well in the next chapter.
