No, Russell Wilson is not Jesus; just a great, mysterious QB

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson got the Rolling Stone treatment this week in a lengthy article that explores, among many things, Wilson’s relationship with God and how his personal brand is perceived. The author, using some religious imagery throughout the feature (“gridiron apocalypse” is a favorite), essentially compares Wilson to Jesus, referring to the quarterback as “The Chosen One.”

Author Stephen Rodrick’s feature is a fair and interesting one, very much worth the read. In a single quote from Russell’s brother, Harry, a good portion of our interest in Russell, the man (not the quarterback), is highlighted: “He’s probably the most confident person I’ve ever known &#8212 and a tough guy to figure out.” Being a tough guy to figure out is his brand – and it’s the exact reason why some people either compare him to Jesus or call him a phony.

The mystery of Russell is quite compelling.

For one, we’re not used to seeing athletes as devout as he is, and the ones we do see, have a tenancy to be mocked or not taken very seriously by media outside of the sports world. In a sports world where we often hear of bad behavior, Russell seems like an outlier to the outside world, which makes many wonder if he’s genuine.

Is he who he appears to be? Is he “The Chosen One?” His brand begs people to wonder how contrived his persona is.

There were rumors that inside the Seahawks locker room, teammates didn’t think he was “black enough.” Once word got out that he was divorcing his first wife, no one knew why. In fact, according to this Rolling Stone piece, his brother didn’t even know why. Is he really practicing abstinence with his girlfriend Ciara?

As Rodrick points out, “He answers questions carefully and generically like, well, a kid who’s been practicing press conferences his entire life.”

Many of these instances happen behind the scenes, where you and I can’t see it. That makes any aberration from his do-gooder attitude more of a story than it actually should be.

In the Rolling Stone, piece we learn that he shouts at a kid at one of his camps who was walking away with a football; the kid explained it was actually one he brought from home. “Wilson flashes that politician smile and quickly changes gear. ‘OK, bro. Hope you had a good time.'”

Don O’Neill from the Ron and Don Show also saw an aberration in Russell’s behavior, seemingly interested in his celebrity (from hosting the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards to a cameo in Entourage). It caused him to suggest that Russell might be outgrowing Seattle and the Seahawks.

I don’t think Russell is Jesus-like, nor a phony. I think he’s become the victim of his own brand (to his detractors, at least) and when your brand seems too mysterious, anytime you’re off brand, even for a moment, it’s scrutinized. This Rolling Stone piece helps explain who he really is as the man Russell Wilson.