Russell Wilson may be down, but he’s never out of it. That mindset served him well throughout his life and career. He overcame doubts about his height to become a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. And he turned a new leaf in Pittsburgh, shrugging off doubts about his ability to revive his career with the Steelers. But it’s not hatred or retribution that shapes Wilson’s thinking. It’s an unwavering confidence and optimism that things will get better.
After OC Arthur Smith said he had yet to see Wilson upset, Wilson spoke about how calm and happy he is.
“It takes a lot to piss me off,” Wilson said. via the team’s YouTube channel. “I think growing up, I watched my dad fight through. I saw some great things, some tough things, some of the things that I had to go through. And to upset me… It’s going to take a lot of time. But I believe above all else. I just believe that the best is ahead.”
Wilson’s father, Harrison, died in 2010 from an illness. Complications of diabetes. However, he inspired Russell Wilson and encouraged him to become a multi-sport athlete, a rarity in modern college athletics. Both were athletes, with Harrison a star receiver at Dartmouth who earned a tryout with the San Diego Chargers. Russell Wilson is an NFL Hall of Famer who won one of his two Super Bowl chances.
Although his focus is now on football, Wilson credits his baseball background for influencing the way he thinks about his next play.
“Maybe I love baseball too much and I play shortstop and second base too much and I pitch too much. But I just believe in the next pitch, you know what I mean? Do you have it?”
Some have criticized Wilson’s character. During his two tough years in Denver, his overly positive and corny personality turned him into a punching bag.
It’s a sentiment that applies to Tomlin as well. His “standard is standard” mentality is similar for the next person. Tomlin certainly shows some grumpiness on the field, but he rarely gets overwhelmed by the task at hand. Even after losing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to season-ending elbow surgery in 2019, Tomlin never faltered and the team posted a .500 record. Much better than anyone expected.
Wilson shows passion on the field, and his teammates note that he is a detail-oriented person. Don’t confuse Wilson’s character to lower your standards. But it’s important for the offensive leader to be the brightest light, which is one reason his addition is important to Pittsburgh’s success.
