The call didn’t come during a media frenzy or some orchestrated PR moment. It was just one athlete, unsure of his path, reaching out to another who had already walked it. Baseball or football? The decision loomed, heavy with risk. On the other end of the line, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback didn’t offer a polished pitch—just lived experience, and a push that would quietly change the course of another career.

Russell Wilson has long embraced his role as a leader—on the field and beyond. Whether it’s celebrating his teammates’ milestones or helping them navigate life off the gridiron, he consistently shows up. For instance, Wilson and his wife Ciara once helped DK Metcalf connect with singer Normani. When the couple got engaged earlier this year, the Wilsons were among the first to celebrate via FaceTime. That’s who he is: a record-breaking quarterback who has also broken stereotypes about what Black QBs can achieve in the NFL. And he hasn’t done it alone.

Wilson often credits those who helped him early in his journey—and in turn, he’s passed that help on. One such moment came when Cardinals QB Kyler Murray faced a career-defining decision. A standout in both football and baseball, Murray was torn between two professional futures. Looking for clarity, he called Russell Wilson. On the May 29 episode of 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, Wilson recalled the conversation.

“I remember being in a conversation with Kyler Murray, talking to him on the phone about, ‘Should I play football? Should I play baseball?’” Wilson’s advice came from personal experience. “I just kind of gave him my perspective of why football first—because you can always go back to baseball. But you gotta give this football thing a chance, ’cause you’re short, you’re Black, you’re young.”

It was a moment of raw honesty, and it helped tip the scales. Murray chose the NFL and went on to become the face of the Arizona Cardinals franchise. Now, he’s even being discussed as a potential candidate for the U.S. flag football team for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. If not selected by Team USA, he could represent South Korea through his maternal grandmother, Misun Henderson, who immigrated to the U.S. decades ago.

That one phone call? It didn’t just steer a career. It reshaped a life. And there could be many more to come.

Russell Wilson gives a reality check to young QBs

Russell Wilson’s mentorship doesn’t stop at Murray. He feels a responsibility toward every young quarterback, especially Black QBs trying to rise in a league that hasn’t always welcomed them with open arms. He’s been in their shoes. Ahead of the 2012 draft, Wilson’s height—5-foot-11—sparked doubt across the league. He wasn’t supposed to thrive in a sport that traditionally favored towering passers. But he didn’t just survive—he soared. Rookie of the Year. Super Bowl champion in his second season. Another Super Bowl trip in Year 3. All while rewriting expectations. His message now?

Strip away the hype and focus on the grind. “There’s no magic pill. You gotta put in the work.” That’s Wilson distilled. Genetics, coaching, and teammates all matter—but without discipline, they mean little. Even someone like Tom Brady, with elite receivers and one of the best offensive lines in history, was known to spend endless hours in the film room dissecting defenses.

Wilson sees himself now as a guide—paying it forward, just like those who poured into him early on. “Whatever I can do to inspire guys, to give guys belief. Whatever questions—life questions, business questions, football questions, whatever it is—I feel like others did it for me, I gotta do it for them and do it 100 times.” It’s more than mentorship. It’s a mission.

As the 2025 season looms, a new generation of Black quarterbacks—like Jayden Daniels and Shedeur Sanders—are preparing to take the stage. Now, they’ve got more than talent and ambition. They’ve got someone to look up to. Someone who’s not just walked the path, but left the light on for those coming next. It’s not just mentorship. It’s legacy.