NFL Seattle Seahawks

15 Things You Didn’t Know About Russell Wilson Heading Into Super Bowl XLIX

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By @MichaelTerrill

15 Things You Didn't Know About Russell Wilson Heading Into Super Bowl XLIX

Russell Wilson
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is a special person, even if it wasn’t always the case. Wilson has accomplished great things during his three-year NFL career. Of course, his career might improve in two weeks during Super Bowl XLIX. Heading into the Super Bowl, here are 15 things you didn’t know about Wilson.

15. Dominant Career Record

Dominant Career Record
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15. Dominant Career Record

Dominant Career Record
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Most people know that Wilson has been dominant since he entered the NFL in 2012. However, what many may not realize is how good his career record truly is. Prior to Super Bowl XLIX, Wilson has a 42-13 record that includes playoffs. That mark is the best of any quarterback in his first three seasons in NFL history.

14. Playoff Win Percentage Off the Charts

Playoff Win Percentage Off the Charts
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14. Playoff Win Percentage Off the Charts

Playoff Win Percentage Off the Charts
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Only the great Bart Starr has a higher playoff win percentage than Wilson does among quarterbacks with at least three games started in the postseason. And remember, Starr played for the Packers in the 1960s when the team crushed nearly everyone they faced. Starr’s 9-1 (.900) record is mere percentage points above Wilson’s 6-1 (.857) record.

13. Owns Head-to-Head Matchup Against Tom Brady

Owns Head-to-Head Matchup Against Tom Brady
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13. Owns Head-to-Head Matchup Against Tom Brady

Owns Head-to-Head Matchup Against Tom Brady
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Tom Brady’s 20 playoff wins towers over Wilson’s six. However, when it comes to head-to-head matchups, Wilson owns Brady. Okay, so it was only one game that occurred in Wilson’s rookie season. Still, the then rookie quarterback led the Seahawks to a 24-23 win over the New England Patriots at CenturyLink Field.

12. Uses His Father’s Message To Push Himself

Uses His Father’s Message To Push Himself
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12. Uses His Father’s Message To Push Himself

Uses His Father’s Message To Push Himself
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Wilson’s father died in 2010 due to complications from diabetes. It had a huge impact on Wilson’s life, as his father and he were very close. The most impactful message Wilson ever received came from his father. He used to say to Wilson, “Why not you?” The message was clear. Even though people may think Wilson wasn’t good enough, all he had to do was remember his father’s words of wisdom to take him to the next level.

11. Why Not You Foundation

Why Not You Foundation
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11. Why Not You Foundation

Why Not You Foundation
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The message his father would tell him over and over eventually would have a huge impact on the lives of thousands. Not only did Wilson change the words slightly to “Why not us” for Seattle’s march to the Super Bowl last season, but he also used “Why not you” to start a foundation to raise awareness for domestic violence.

10. Became Very Religious After A Dream

Became Very Religious After A Dream
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10. Became Very Religious After A Dream

Became Very Religious After A Dream
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Wilson used his Christian faith to help him with the pain of his father’s death. He wasn’t always religious, though. In fact, he didn’t turn to religion until he saw Jesus come to him in a dream at the age of 14 years old. Ever since then, he knew following the Christian path was the only way to get through life.

9. Close With Pete Carroll

Close With Pete Carroll
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9. Close With Pete Carroll

Close With Pete Carroll
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Over the next two weeks, everyone is going to talk about how close Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick are. Even though there is plenty of truth to that statement, the reality is Wilson and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll might be even closer. Wilson thinks of Carroll as a father figure, especially since his biological father is no longer living.

8. Used To Be A Bully

Used To Be A Bully
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8. Used To Be A Bully

Used To Be A Bully
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Wilson has the image of someone who is loving, caring and giving. However, that was not always the case. He has admitted to being a bully growing up. In elementary and middle school, he would rub other children’s face in the dirt and knock teeth out. He was essentially the most terrifying kind of bully you could think of. Thankfully, he grew out of that stage after he found religion as a young teenager.

7. Football Wasn’t His First Choice

Football Wasn’t His First Choice
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7. Football Wasn’t His First Choice

Football Wasn’t His First Choice
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Wilson was always in love with football, but he thought he had a more realistic shot at going pro in baseball. Wilson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007, but he decided to attend NC State instead. In 2010, he was drafted by the Colorado Rockies. He played 93 games as a second baseman for two of the organization’s Single-A affiliates.

6. Set FBS Record While At Wisconsin

Set FBS Record While At Wisconsin
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6. Set FBS Record While At Wisconsin

Set FBS Record While At Wisconsin
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When Wilson realized baseball wasn’t for him, he wanted to get back into football so he could have a shot at the NFL. He played his final collegiate football season with the Wisconsin Badgers, a move that would change his life for the better. Not only did he lead Wisconsin to the Rose Bowl, he also set the single-season FBS record for passing efficiency (191.8).

5. 2013 Salary Shocking In Comparison

2013 Salary Shocking In Comparison
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5. 2013 Salary Shocking In Comparison

2013 Salary Shocking In Comparison
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It’s rare for a quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl win in only his second season. But, that’s exactly what Wilson did. Since he’s still on his rookie contract, Wilson is still making well under million per season. In fact, last year when he won the Super Bowl, Wilson’s $526,000 salary was $356,000 less than what Peyton Manning made per week in 2013 ($882,000).

4. 2014 Salary Isn’t Any Better In Comparison

2014 Salary Isn’t Any Better In Comparison
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4. 2014 Salary Isn’t Any Better In Comparison

2014 Salary Isn’t Any Better In Comparison
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Brady’s contract extension will pay him $100.6 million, including signing bonus, through 2017. In 2014, he made $14.8 million compared to Wilson’s $662,434 salary. Yes, Brady has 20 playoff wins, six AFC Championship wins, three Super Bowl rings, two Super Bowl MVP awards and is a two-time NFL MVP. However, Wilson is well on his way to getting some serious recognition for everything he has accomplished in his first three years.

3. Shares A Special Accomplishment With Another Famous QB

Shares A Special Accomplishment With Another Famous QB
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3. Shares A Special Accomplishment With Another Famous QB

Shares A Special Accomplishment With Another Famous QB
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Over the past 30 years, every single quarterback to start in the Super Bowl has been at least 6’2”. Of course, there’s always an exception to the rule. That exception is none other than Wilson and Drew Brees, who Wilson has consistently been compared to prior to the 2012 NFL Draft and throughout his career.

2. Staple of the Seattle Community

Staple of the Seattle Community
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2. Staple of the Seattle Community

Staple of the Seattle Community
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Wilson can constantly be seen doing charity and humanitarian work in his spare time. He spends a lot of that time at Seattle Children’s Hospital, which he has been known to say is his favorite part of the week. While he’s making new friends at the hospital, he’s always changing the lives of many by selflessly devoting his time to their cause.

1. Undefeated Against Super Bowl Champion Quarterbacks

Undefeated Against Super Bowl Champion Quarterbacks
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1. Undefeated Against Super Bowl Champion Quarterbacks

Undefeated Against Super Bowl Champion Quarterbacks
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The most impressive statistic of Wilson’s career is one that is most likely not known by most fans. Wilson is a staggering 10-0 against Super Bowl champion quarterbacks. He’s 3-0 against Aaron Rodgers, 2-0 against Peyton Manning, 2-0 against Eli Manning, 2-0 against Drew Brees and 1-0 against Tom Brady. Obviously, that number will change to 11-0 or 10-1 at the conclusion of Super Bowl XLIX.

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