26 Things You Didn't Know About Russell Wilson

From being a bully to Dancing With The Stars, here are 26 things you didn't know about Russell Wilson.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Since he was drafted by the Seahawks in 2012, Russell Carrington Wilson has set the NFL on fire. And while the league has no shortage of superstars, there isn’t another dude quite like Wilson. A two-time Pro Bowl quarterback who seems to break a different record every week, Wilson gets it done both on the field and off it. When he’s not breaking a linebacker’s ankles with one of his juking runs, he’s spending time at the Seattle Children’s Hospital, where he volunteers regularly. He’ll forever be worshiped in Seattle for delivering the franchise’s first Super Bowl title, but fans adore Russell Wilson, both the player and the man. He’s smart, never finds himself anywhere near off-field trouble, and most importantly, he’s a winner.

The story of Russell Wilson didn't start at the pre-game handshake with Peyton Manning in East Rutherford, though. It started with a kid who found his faith in religion at a young age, could’ve had a career in Major League Baseball, and did big things on the gridiron with not one, but two colleges.

Today, Russell Wilson turns 26—hard to believe, we know—and in celebration of his birthday we took a deeper look at the man beneath the pads and helmet. From the real reason he wears the number three to how his high school yearbook had it right from the start, check out 26 Things You Didn’t Know About Russell Wilson.

He, along with Seahawks head coach Peter Carroll, recently participated in a video with trick shot artists Dude Perfect.

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He is a senior editor at The Players’ Tribune, and wrote an article about domestic violence.

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In high school, Wilson was voted most likely to appear on television.

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He was drafted by two Major League Baseball teams.

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Russell put on his barista hat and made pumpkin spice lattes in Pike Place.

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He starred in a hilarious commercial for Alaska Airlines.

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Wilson found religion at the age of 14, after Jesus came to him in a dream.

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Up until the sixth grade, Wilson was a bully.

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He had one of the best ice bucket challenges of all time.

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One of his biggest fans is Billie Jean King.

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He once performed with Preston Pohl and Trenton George.

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He met Cal Ripken Jr. at the age of 14.

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Wilson has a bus named after him at Seahawk tailgates.

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He wears No. 3 because of the Holy Trinity.

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He is the first QB in the Super Bowl era to post a 100+ passer rating in his first two NFL seasons.

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Russell made less in all of 2013 than Peyton Manning did each week.

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In his only season at Wisconsin, Wilson led the Badgers to a Big Ten title and the Rose Bowl.

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He set the single-season FBS record for passing efficiency at Wisconsin.

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In 2008, Wilson became the first freshman in history to be named the ACC’s First-Team All-Conference quarterback.

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Prior to the 2012 NFL draft, Wilson put the names of all 32 teams into a hat, and then picked out the Seahawks.

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He was just the sixth rookie quarterback to win an NFL playoff game.

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Wilson once roomed with 2014 World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner.

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He’s the first player in NFL history to record 300+ pass yards and 100+ rush yards in the same game.

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If he and the Seahawks repeat as Super Bowl champions, Wilson will go on Dancing With the Stars.

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In his first two years, he won more regular season games as a starter than any quarterback in NFL history.

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Ryan Clark says Russell Wilson is the best player in the NFL.

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