Russell Wilson placed the names of all 32 NFL teams in a hat ahead of the 2012 NFL draft; a draft most scouts projected the Wisconsin grad dropping into the middle rounds. They weren't far off.
In a class brimming with promising quarterbacks - Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were selected with the top two picks, respectively - Wilson dropped to the 75th overall pick of the third round. Quarterback-craven Miami select Ryan Tannehill, and the lowly Cleveland Browns took Brandon Weeden. Even Denver passed, taking Brock Osweiler late in the second round.
As if by fate, as if every other NFL club was meant to pass on the future Super Bowl champion, Seattle took a chance on Wilson. It wasn't much of a surprise to Wilson, though. The slip he blindly pulled out of the hat told him his future was in the northwest.
Wilson isn't the prototypical quarterback. He's undersized, standing a generously measured 5-foot 11-inches. Defenses aren't worried about his arm mainly because Wilson, who averaged just 217.2 passing yards and 28.2 pass attempts per game, isn't one to challenge secondaries. His only 300-plus passing yardage game this season came against St. Louis in Week 7.
Head coach Pete Carroll centered his game plan around what Wilson could do with his feet, molding the 26-year-old into the league's premier read-option quarterback. Using the read option puts the ball in either Wilson or Marshawn Lynch's hands. The duo combined for more yards on the ground than 27 teams (Wilson alone accounted for 30 percent of the Seahawks running plays). His mobility led to 829 rushing yards, fifth most by a quarterback in NFL history.
When he's not beating defenders with his arm and feet, Wilson is beating them with his mind. He's calm and collected in the clutch. In three seasons Wilson already has 10 fourth-quarter comebacks and 15 game-winning drives, none more awing that the final seven minutes of this year's NFC Championship.
The Seahawks trailed 19-7 with four minutes left in regulation. Wilson began by hitting Doug Baldwin for a 20-yard gain. Then he connected with Lynch for 26. Finally, Wilson ran the ball in from one-yard out to bring Seattle within a score of tying. Moments later the Seahawks tied. Once overtime started, Wilson lathered, rinsed, and repeated.
Wilson hit Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse with back-to-back 35-yard completions, the latter hitting Kearse in the middle of the end zone to punch Seattle's second-straight Super Bowl ticket. Ironically, it was Kearse's game-winning, 35-yard reception in last year's NFC Championship that sent the Seahawks to the franchise's first-ever title game.
Lynch may be the backbone of Seattle's offense, but Wilson has proven indispensible. He was already something special his rookie season. Wilson earned Rookie of the Week honors for two touchdowns, 188 pass-yards outing against the Jets in Week 10. He earned Offensive Rookie of the Month honors for leading Seattle to a 5-0 December, averaging a 115.2 passer rating and 52.4 rush yards per game. 2013 only got better.
Wilson dismantled Denver's secondary in Super Bowl 48, throwing for 206 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. This intrepid quarterback - the shortest ever to win a title - outplayed future hall of famer Peyton Manning. More significantly, Wilson became just the second black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, following Washington's Doug Williams performance 27 years ago.
He was finally being recognized for his efforts. Wilson earned a $169,141.73 bonus for the season under the NFL's Performance-Based pay program. Endorsements started pouring in. While he had already been part of a Levi's campaign the year prior, advertising's big boys came calling. Nike, Adidas, Microsoft, Bose, among others all wanted a piece.
Soon enough the Seahawks will start paying Wilson too. Wilson is at the pinnacle of his career yet still plays under the four-year, $2.99 million rookie contract he signed in 2012. He's due for a mega-contract extension.
Joe Flacco bargained a $120 million deal after leading the Baltimore Ravens to victory in Super Bowl two years ago. Aaron Rodgers received a 5-year, $110-million extension in 2013, three years after bringing the Lombardi trophy back to Lambeau Field. San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick signed a six-year contract extension worth up to $126 million - $54 million guaranteed - last offseason, and he hasn't accomplished half as much as Wilson.
Wilson's road to Super Bowl 49 was met with skepticism, neglect, and avoidance from those assuming he wasn't cut out to lead a championship-caliber team. He's made a career out of proving doubters wrong. Sunday will just be another example of it.
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