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 Linda Thomas
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The faith and football of Russell Wilson

August 24, 2012 @ 2:10 am (Updated: 7:39 am - 8/25/12 )

The stats tell football fans a lot about the performance of rookie quarterback who started for the Seattle Seahawks Friday night. Wilson threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Hawks to a 44-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

His updates on Twitter tell me a little about his personality.

"Blessed to be a Seahawk."

Who is this guy?

WilsonWilson was drafted with the 12th pick in the third round - 75th overall - during the 2012 NFL Draft.

He's the first quarterback drafted under Carroll and General Manager John Schneider and the highest quarterback selected by the club since 710 ESPN Seattle's Brock Huard was taken with the 77th overall pick in 1999.

"My goal is to be great," Wilson told reporters after Coach Pete Carroll announced he'd get the start in the Hawk's third preseason game. "I definitely imagine myself always being successful."

A lot has been made of his height, or lack of, for a quarterback. He's 5'11" and many sports writers and pros say it's rare for someone under 6 feet tall to make it in that position.

"It's pretty unbelievable how the Lord works," says Wilson.

Wilson's faith is an important part of his life.

He's referred to it in post-game interviews and he posts daily Bible verses on his Twitter feed. His latest: I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14 NKJV)

Wilson says faith in God is the foundation for his life and family - brother Harrison Wilson IV, sister Anna, and mother Tammy.

Wilson told a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter about how faith helped him deal with the death of his father, Harrison Wilson III in 2010, who had been suffering from diabetes and several strokes.

The date was June 9, the day after Russell Wilson was drafted by the (Major League Baseball team, the Colorado) Rockies. He went to share the news with his father.

"My grandmother and I went there and we started praying," Russell Wilson said. "He was non-responsive."

Undaunted, Russell Wilson told his father about being drafted by the Rockies. He eventually stepped out into the hallway, along with his grandmother and mother.

Mother and son stepped aside and started talking privately, for about 15 minutes.

Russell Wilson finished the story:

"We were just standing there and all of a sudden it clicked," he said. "The Holy Spirit was telling us to go in there. So we went in the room and - this is the crazy part.

"I walked in and I could see the (EKG) monitor. As soon as I walked in the door I said: 'Hey, Dad, I'm here.'

"As soon as I said that, the line went flat. That's how I knew the Lord is real. I knew my dad heard me and he could hear everything I was telling him about how I got drafted. He was waiting for something great to happen.

"That's how I knew he went in peace. He is here watching me right now."

By LINDA THOMAS

Photo by Ron Chenoy

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Comments (41)


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  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Good on you..
    August 26, 2012 8:10 am
    He has "faith".. Excellent. That may perhaps display that he has a bit of stability in his life unlike those NFL players who make headlines in other ways. BUT, if the Hawks go far this year with him, I swear to god he better NOT stand up on a stage and yell out "Thankyou you Jesus!!" while holding a trophy.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Daddy Dennis wrote...
    Walker
    August 26, 2012 2:11 pm
    He will give all glory and honor to Jesus Christ. There are people who don't mind being known as a Christian first. He is one of us.

    I found the replies to this story to be very telling. A bunch of God-hating bigots who couldn't keep their rotten and selfish agenda quiet enough to let a good story be told. Fix yourself. You are a net loss for humanity.

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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Daddy Dennis
    August 26, 2012 2:40 pm
    The" rotten and selfish agenda" mainly comes from you Christian Rightys who want non believers to be ruled by the Bible that you believe in not us. Thankfully our forefathers saw this disease called religion as the danger it can be and prohibits the government to be ruled by what your side thinks is correct.Your side is constantly pushing pushing pushing and frankly the MAJORITY is getting sick of it. If you want to practice your religion fine we have no problem with it and it is your RIGHT but cross the line and we will slap you down
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  • ten4goodbuddy wrote...
    So Sad
    August 27, 2012 11:15 am
    Daddy Dennis, it is people like you, acting the way you did here, who push others away from Christianity. So much so, I almost believe you to be an atheist troll just trying to stir up the pot. You do a very poor job of communicating in this format, perhaps you should refrain from joining in on these types of discussions online, it paints you in a very poor light.
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    ten4goodbuddy
    August 27, 2012 8:05 pm

    Weellll, good post, I still don't care about his faith, I only care that he is a good and lawful individual and that he can read defense, anticipate routes and make throws to open receivers and make plays. His faith is all and good, but I like him because he is all business and obviously believe in himself and ain't scared to take the bulls by the horn and run with it.

    Anything else is his personal business, I don't need to know his personal business.

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  • BeenThere wrote...
    Daddy Dennis......I am Christian. Take a look at your heart and ask, "why so much anger"? Why do you lash out at other people in such a mean spirited way? Look within your soul before you start to point the judgemental finger.
    August 27, 2012 10:59 pm
    Did Jesus turn the other cheek when insulted? God knows who are His. Speak kindly.
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  • monroemad wrote...
    Character
    January 11, 2013 12:01 pm
    It is all about character. Russell has it. I am proud to point at him to my kids and say "Emulate him"
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