Ciara reacts – Russell Wilson announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons, and his wife Ciara responded with heartfelt pride online. Wilson also shared a plan to join CBS Sports as an analyst, closing the chapter on his playing career that included a Super Bowl wi
Russell Wilson didn’t just post a retirement announcement—he wrapped a whole career in one last message, and Ciara was quick to reflect what it meant to her.
On Wednesday, June 3, Wilson shared a sentimental video highlighting moments from his NFL journey on Instagram. In the comments, Ciara reacted immediately: “The best in the world!” She followed it with: “There’s only one, 3!”
Ciara’s message went further than a quick tribute. “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!” she wrote, framing Wilson’s decision in the language of partnership, not just football.
Wilson’s video turned personal, too—especially as he thanked the people who helped shape his path from the start. “You’ve also given me the greatest gift of all: family. To every coach who believed in me, you helped shape me into the man I am today,” he said.
His gratitude reached a specific moment in his origin story. “To Coach Carroll. thanks for taking a chance on the young 5-foot-11 black kid from Richmond. Virginia that was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL. We knew what winning was like. And to every teammate I’ve had the privilege of sharing the locker room with. thank you for the sacrifices. the brotherhood. the memories. None of this is possible without you,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s goodbye also carried a clear sense of what football meant to more than just him. “To every fan who supported me. through the highs and the lows. your belief. your energy. and your passion meant more than you’ll ever know. To Seattle, you raised me. Not just all the wins and crazy loud games, but also the forever memories after we won the Super Bowl. But even more important, the kids at Seattle Children’s Hospital. You gave me hope and belief in a better tomorrow. And hopefully, I did the same for you.”.
Even as he closed the door on his playing days, Wilson said the next chapter is already lined up. He shared that he will be joining CBS Sports as an analyst, calling it a continuation of what he loves. “As I enter this next chapter with CBS Sports and the NFL today. I’m so blessed to continue doing what I love most. being around the greatest game in the world. ” Wilson said.
He also set a timing point for what fans should expect. Wilson previously shared that he will make his full-time analyst debut in the 2026 NFL regular season when it kicks off in September.
In his longer message, Wilson also addressed family with the kind of direct gratitude that doesn’t need translation. “Dad, I thank you. I thank you for showing me what is possible. I thank you, Mom, for your unconditional love. I thank you, Harry and Anna, for your unwavering support. And I thank you, C. I thank you, Sierra, for being my greatest blessing, my best friend, and my partner through it all. None of this journey called life would have been the same without you. I thank you, football. I thank you, I thank you, I thank you. I am forever grateful. Love, 3.”.
Wilson’s playing career is why the retirement announcement landed so hard in the first place. Over 14 seasons in the NFL. he won a Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks. where he was the quarterback for 10 seasons from 2012 to 2021. His accomplishments also include winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2020 for philanthropy and community service. along with 10x Pro Bowl selections.
His final NFL stop was the New York Giants. Wilson last played for the New York Giants and turned down a backup quarterback contract offer prior to his announcement.
Before the retirement became official, Wilson already had a taste of the broadcast side. He was a guest analyst in 2025 during the New York Giants’ bye week.
Taken together—Ciara’s pride in the comment section. Wilson’s emphasis on family and the people who believed in him. and his immediate pivot to a new role—this retirement wasn’t presented as an ending built only on football. It was framed as a closing of one career and the start of another. with the same core thread running through it: the life built alongside the game.
Russell Wilson retirement Ciara reaction NFL retirement CBS Sports analyst Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl XLVIII Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year New York Giants