Russell Wilson’s NFL career is officially over, and one of the first people to publicly celebrate the moment was the person who has been beside him through nearly all of it: Ciara.
Shortly after Wilson announced his retirement in an emotional Instagram post, the Grammy-winning singer shared a heartfelt message reflecting on their journey together. Wilson’s post was simple—“Thank You, football. Love, #3”—but it marked the end of one of the most accomplished quarterback careers of the modern era.
Ciara responded in the comments with a tribute of her own. “The best in the world! There’s only one, 3!” she wrote. “Always so proud of you! It’s a true blessing to go on this journey with you! My greatest inspiration! I love you so much!”
The reaction resonated because Ciara has become one of the most visible supporters of Wilson throughout the latter half of his career. Since the couple married in 2016, she has been a constant presence at games, award ceremonies, and major career milestones, while the pair built a public identity centered around family, philanthropy, and business ventures beyond sports.
Wilson’s retirement closes a chapter that began when the Seattle Seahawks selected him in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Over the next 14 seasons, he accumulated 46,966 passing yards, 353 touchdown passes, 10 Pro Bowl selections, a Super Bowl championship, and a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
He also finished his career as one of the league’s most productive dual-threat quarterbacks, recording more than 5,500 rushing yards while setting multiple franchise passing records in Seattle.
The announcement comes after a period of uncertainty about Wilson’s future. Following the 2025 season with the New York Giants, he entered free agency and publicly maintained that he still believed he could play.
Days before announcing his retirement, Wilson posted about his first day with the network, signaling that a transition was already underway.
