Every NFL star has a story. But Russell Wilson's story is different. He’s more than just a Super Bowl champion, ten-time Pro Bowler, and one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. He's also the co-founder of a company, a co-owner of an MLS team, and one of the league’s most recognisable faces.
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Behind the calm confidence of the quarterback lies the memory of a father whose influence is still felt in every play. This is the story of how his father’s life—and untimely death—became the emotional engine behind Wilson’s every move.
Everything we know about Russell Wilson’s parents
Russell Wilson's parents, Harrison Wilson III and Tammy Wilson, were the first to believe in his greatness. Harrison, known for his infectious energy and boundless dreams, had a storied past as an athlete and a scholar. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he played both football and baseball, even making First Team All-Ivy in 1976 as per People.
Though he narrowly missed an NFL career after a preseason stint with the San Diego Chargers, Harrison channelled his drive into law, earning a degree from the University of Virginia and later working for Procter & Gamble before joining McGuireWoods. He also ran his own law firm, reports ESPN.
Tammy, on the other hand, carved her path in healthcare. She began as a registered nurse and worked her way up to become Director of Patient Outreach and Care Management at the University of Washington Medicine. Her role became especially crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she helped organise temporary hospital spaces in Seattle. Russell once shared:
My mom is in Seattle right now and she's helping build, basically these portable hospitals in a way, in and around the community in Seattle so people can check for coronavirus and everything else.
Together, they raised three children — Harry, Russell and Anna — instilling in them not just a love for sports, but a respect for education and discipline. As Harrison’s brother Benjamin put it:
It started with hard work, and they were expected to excel academically and to study hard. That was pretty firm. You weren’t going to play if you didn’t do well in school.
The tragic loss that shaped Russell Wilson
Despite all the inspiration and support he received growing up, Russell's journey took a heartbreaking turn when his father’s health began to deteriorate.
Harrison Wilson III's death in 2010 was not sudden. It followed years of health battles, including diabetes, a stroke, and even the amputation of a leg. But through it all, he remained a dreamer. One story from ESPN captures this perfectly: while struggling with his speech after a stroke, Harrison turned to his eldest son Harry and said:
I just wish I had been a success.
To many, Harrison had already achieved greatness, but his ambition knew no bounds.
He dreamt big for his children too. Russell remembers mock interviews after games, with Harrison pretending to be a reporter: 'How does it feel to win the Super Bowl?' These imaginative sessions, along with late-night drives where his father would say things like 'Remember, there's a king in every crowd,' helped forge the mindset of an NFL leader. Wilson recalled the incident and said:
He woke me up early in the morning while I was sitting next to him and he was jamming to oldies.
Dad, I'm halfway asleep, what's up?' He goes, 'Remember, there's a king in every crowd.' I'm like, there's a king in a crowd? I'm trying to visualize a king in a crowd, what does this look like.
He allowed me to understand what that meant. What that meant is that God is always there, what it meant with my dad passing away, that I believe he has the best seat in the house.
In another story, Wilson was about 10 years old when he hit for the cycle in a baseball game. On the ride home, his father turned to him and said:
You can go however far you wanna go.
That kind of unwavering belief stayed with him.
Harrison also planted the seed of one of Wilson's most defining mantras—Why Not You? He explained:
My dad, when I was young, he always inspired me. He used to always ask me the question, 'Son, why not you? Why don't you play pro baseball? Why don't you play pro football?'
The idea of 'Why not you?' was really at the center of who I was. I started really subconsciously and consciously asking myself that question.
And it’s a mindset that still fuels him today. In high-pressure moments, Wilson has become known for his late-game heroics. According to Seahawks.com, he has always performed brilliantly under pressure and during the last crucial minutes of the games.
Wilson credits much of his poise under pressure to those formative experiences. He shared how his father would ask him hypothetical questions about the game like ‘the game is on the line, what are you going to do?’ or how would he handle winning the super bowl?. Russell said:
Ever since I was probably 5 years old, ever since I could remember…
I just had people who were very inspirational in my life and used to ask me questions like that. They allowed me to believe in myself, they also allowed me to believe in situations that things can overcome, and actually visualize it happening.
His father’s health deteriorated further while Russell was at NC State. As revealed by Essentially Sports, Harrison fell, hit his head, and was in a coma for over three weeks. Yet, his father fought back—awakening, walking again, and even attending Russell's college games.
The final blow came on November 2010—just a day after Russell was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the MLB. His father passed away, and with that, a new fire was lit in Wilson
Russell Wilson’s sweet tribute to his father
Russell Wilson is married to Ciara, a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer known for chart-topping hits and her powerful stage presence. The couple, who wed in 2016, have built a life centred on family and faith. Together, they are raising four children: two sons and two daughters.
In 2020, they welcomed their second child together—a baby boy named Win Harrison Wilson. Though the name 'Win' caught the public’s attention, it was 'Harrison' that truly spoke volumes. It served as a lasting homage to Russell’s late father.
As ESPN reported, it was a direct tribute to Harrison Wilson III—the man who inspired the athlete, the entrepreneur, and the father Russell would become.
Harrison's name now lives on, not just through foundation work like the Why Not You Academy, but through a grandson who, like his namesake, has been born into a world of big dreams and bigger possibilities.
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Sources used:
People: All About Russell Wilson's Parents Harrison Wilson III and Tammy Wilson
ESPN: 'Why not you?' Late father still inspires Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson
Seahawks.com: The Story Behind Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson's Late-Game Success
Essentially Sports: “My Dad Was on His Death Bed": Russell Wilson Opens Up on Ditching Baseball & Rejoin Football at Wisconsin
