{"id":715279,"date":"2026-06-04T18:28:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:28:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/715279\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T18:28:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:28:10","slug":"newly-retired-quarterback-russell-wilson-is-joining-the-nfl-today-hes-not-the-only-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/715279\/","title":{"rendered":"Newly retired quarterback Russell Wilson is joining ‘The NFL Today.’ He’s not the only one"},"content":{"rendered":"

Russell Wilson<\/a> spent the last 14 years as an NFL quarterback.<\/p>\n

He is the shortest starting quarterback<\/a> to win a Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a 10-time Pro Bowl selection whose moon ball is one of the prettiest, most dangerous downfield passes in league history.<\/p>\n

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Now he\u2019s calling it quits \u2014 at least as a player.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, Wilson announced both his retirement from the league and his new gig as an analyst for CBS Sports on its studio show \u201cThe NFL Today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m so blessed to continue doing what I love most: being around the greatest game in the world,\u201d Wilson said in a 3-minute video that he posted<\/a> to social media with the caption, \u201cThank you, Football.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more: Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is joining NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ pregame show<\/a><\/p>\n

The next day, CBS Sports announced the addition of Wilson and former three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Kyle Long<\/a> to \u201cThe NFL Today\u201d on-air team. They will join a panel that will continue to include Nate Burleson<\/a>, Bill Cowher and James Brown.<\/p>\n

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Former NFL MVP Matt Ryan<\/a> left the show this offseason to become the president of football for his longtime former team, the Atlanta Falcons<\/a>. Former three-time defensive player of the year J.J. Watt<\/a> exited the studio group the previous offseason to become a booth analyst for the network.<\/p>\n

Long is a three-time Pro Bowl selection who spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears<\/a>. He has been with CBS Sports as a studio and game analyst since 2020. His father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Howie Long<\/a>, has been a studio analyst on rival show \u201cFox NFL Sunday\u201d since its inception in 1994.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is everything a boy like me could have ever dreamed of, having watched my dad be in the studio, sitting on James Brown\u2019s knee in 1994 at the desk,\u201d Long said Thursday during an appearance with Wilson on \u201cCBS Mornings.\u201d<\/a> \u201cI knew this is where I wanted to be. CBS has been awesome, and we get to do it every Sunday now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more: Plaschke: They really got him! Superstar sacker Myles Garrett makes Rams Super Bowl favorites<\/a><\/p>\n

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Burleson, also a host on \u201cCBS Mornings,\u201d said his advice to newcomer Wilson would be to \u201cjust bring the same passion that he brought for the game to the studio.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are going to get to see a different side of Russ, which I\u2019m excited about,\u201d the former NFL receiver said.<\/p>\n

Selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 draft, Wilson led the team to its first Super Bowl championship following the 2013 season and back to the big game a year later. After 10 seasons in Seattle, he played two years with the Denver Broncos<\/a>, one with the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> and one with the New York Giants<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last month, Wilson told the New York Post that he received an offer from the New York Jets<\/a> to serve as a backup to quarterback Geno Smith<\/a>. During his career, Wilson threw for 46,966 yards with 353 touchdowns and 114 interceptions and ran for 5,568 yards (fourth all-time for a quarterback) with 31 touchdowns.<\/p>\n

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In his video, Wilson expresses gratitude to many people, including former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll \u201cfor taking a chance on a young, 5-11 Black kid from Richmond, Va., that was told he was too small to ever make it in the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more: Swanson: Rams keep heeding L.A.’s win-at-all-costs demands. Will it finally get them more fans?<\/a><\/p>\n

He also thanks his wife, pop star Ciara<\/a>, \u201cfor being my greatest blessing, my best friend, my partner through it all,\u201d and the rest of his family.<\/p>\n

Ciara commented<\/a> on Wilson\u2019s Instagram post: \u201cThe best in the world! There\u2019s only one, 3! Always so proud of you! It\u2019s a true blessing to go on this journey with you! My greatest inspiration! I love you so much!\u201d<\/p>\n

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And, of course, Wilson just wanted to say thanks to the sport he loves.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve been my joy and peace and safe place,\u201d he said. \u201cYou taught me discipline, faith, resilience, how to keep believing, no matter the circumstances. You\u2019ve given me purpose and opportunity, opportunity to inspire others and create change to continue to evolve the game, not just for me, but for the next generation of others.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.<\/a><\/p>\n

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n