The selection of Russell Wilson in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft was one that proved to be a huge uplift for the Seattle Seahawks. Although Wilson had not set the college world on fire, he was a decent selection to have. In truth, his numbers in college were not so bad considering he put up over 11,000 passing yards in 50 games that he started. With a 31-19 win-loss record and a touchdown to interception ratio of 109-30, Wilson achieved remarkable success.
The general consensus over why Wilson was not drafted earlier was revolving around his height. As a matter of fact, former NFL quarterback and the Head Coach at IMG Academy at that time, Chris Weinke was of the opinion that if Wilson was 6 foot 5 inches, then he would probably have been selected even as the number one pick. Jon Gruden, a well-respected NFL coach and an ESPN Monday Night Football analyst at the time echoed similar sentiments when he also stated that the only real problem with Russell Wilson is his height. It is probably the reason why he may not get picked in the first couple of rounds. So, with all this buzz going around at the time, let’s take a look at the actual height of Russell Wilson.
Russell Wilson’s Height
Russell Wilson is one of the shortest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. In fact, only a handful of quarterbacks who have been successful in this league are shorter than him. Wilson stands at just 5 feet 11 inches (1.8 m). As a result, not surprisingly, Wilson’s stock value dropped during the 2012 NFL Draft. It is widely suspected that due to his short height, many teams passed up the opportunity to sign him earlier.
Wilson though, through his stellar play has proved to all of his critics what a good player he is. His lack of height has not hampered him on the field behind all the taller linesmen as his skills are more than enough to help him succeed at this level. Russell’s NFL resume boasts of achievements such as NFL’s passer rating leader, passing touchdown leader, nine-time Pro Bowl selections, most wins through his first nine seasons, and much more. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that despite being short, Wilson has the credentials to back his case as a top-notch quarterback in the professional league.
Russell Wilson's NFL Career
Wilson started his professional career with the Seattle Seahawks. He had some amazing moments in the Seahawks jersey with the most notable one coming in the 2013-14 season as he led the team to its first-ever Super Bowl title. Following that early success, he led the franchise to another title game the very next season only to fall short to the New England Patriots.
Despite several good seasons under his belt, he began to struggle towards the end of his time in Seattle due to which they traded him to the Denver Broncos in 2022. However, a change in scenery still has not helped him overcome his struggles and now with just two years in Denver, the franchise is getting ready to release him before the start of the 2024 season.
FAQs
A. Russell Wilson stands at 5 feet 11 inches (1.8 m). He is considered to be one of the shortest quarterbacks to ever play the game.
A. Russell Wilson entered the NFL weighing approximately 215 lbs (98kg). However, it seems that he has shed quite a bit of weight recently and seems to weigh somewhere around 200-205 lbs.
A. Russell Wilson has won his one and only Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.
A. Russell Wilson is currently 35 years old as of March 2024. He was born in November 1988.
