Football

Russell Wilson praises Jesus after becoming fastest NFL QB to 100 regular-season wins

By Joshua Doering Oct 4, 2021
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson stretches for the end zone in a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

The Seattle Seahawks snapped a two-game losing streak and picked up a divisional win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday to move to 2-2 on the season. While the 28-21 victory was important for practical reasons, it carried another bit of significance as well.

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It was the 100th regular-season victory of quarterback Russell Wilson’s career, making him the fastest quarterback in NFL history to reach that milestone. Peyton Manning is the only other quarterback to pick up 100 wins before the start of his 11th season.

After the game, Wilson tweeted a chart of the 10 fastest quarterbacks to 100 wins with the caption, “JESUS… YOU get ALL the Glory!!!”

“That’s why I play the game, is to win,” Wilson said in his postgame press conference. “Just to be in great company with some amazing players in the history of this game … it’s pretty special.”

San Francisco held Seattle’s offense in check until Wilson connected with D.K. Metcalf on a 12-yard pass with less than two minutes left in the first half to tie the game at seven.

The Seahawks then got into a rhythm in the third quarter, taking the lead on a rushing touchdown from Wilson.

Less than a minute later, Wilson somehow managed to escape from two 49ers defenders and throw a touchdown pass to Freddie Swain following a San Francisco turnover.

Wilson, a seven-time Pro Bowler, finished the game with 149 passing yards and three total touchdowns. Had the Seahawks not been able to recover from their slow start, it would have been the first time in Wilson’s career he’d lost three games in a row.

He stressed the importance of staying even-keeled when asked about keeping his streak alive after the game.

“I don’t think about losing,” he said. “Thinking about losing three in a row, thinking about losing one, thinking about losing two, I just don’t think about it. It’s not in my repertoire. It’s not in my thought process, to be honest with you.”

Wilson’s faith in Christ is one of the reasons he’s able to remain so positive. The 32-year-old has been very outspoken about his faith throughout his career and leads a weekly Bible study group of around 40 professional and college athletes. In December 2019, the group donated clothes, jackets, toiletries and more to the Seattle community.

More recently, he and his wife, Ciara, partnered with Food Lifeline to donate 1 million meals at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Sunday, Wilson ended his reflection on joining the 100-win club by looking to the future and encouraging the next generation to embrace working hard.

“I’m excited about the next 100,” he said in the press conference. “There’s more championships, there’s more things we want to do, there’s more of this season that we have to do. I’m just fortunate, you know? To any young kid out there too, I think about the hard work. Hard work pays off. You have to put the work in. There’s no mistaking hard work.”

The Seahawks have a short turnaround before welcoming the Los Angeles Rams — another divisional foe — to Lumen Field on Thursday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on FOX.

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