The NFL star shares how he tackles life, leadership and relationships, both on and off the field
It’s officially NFL season, and powerhouse quarterback Russell Wilson is more than ready to take the field. Now stepping into his 14th season with the New York Giants, Wilson continues to prove that his talents extend far beyond sports.
Below, the accomplished athlete opens up to Reader’s Digest about his remarkable journey—not only as a player but also as an entrepreneur, a devoted husband to entertainment star Ciara and a proud father. Together for more than nine years, Wilson and Ciara are raising four beautiful children—Future Zahir, Sienna, Win and Amira—while inspiring fans everywhere with their love, resilience and commitment to family. In a candid conversation, Wilson reveals how he manages to balance the demands of the NFL, his business ventures and his home life with grace and determination.
This story isn’t just about football—it’s about passion, perseverance and purpose. So read on for fun tidbits about Wilson’s life, his aspirations and the inspirations he brings both on and off the field.
This video interview took place on July 17, 2025, and has been edited for length and clarity.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more celebrity interviews, fun facts, humor, cleaning, travel and tech all week long.
Reader’s Digest: You’ve partnered with Hot Wheels for their Speed Snap Track System,* and your son Win loves it! What drew you to the innovation, and what moments do those play sessions spark between you and your kids?
Russell Wilson: It’s fun! We have four kids, and for Win’s birthday, all he wanted was a Hot Wheels birthday. He had his best friends come over and hang out and have a Hot Wheels–themed party.
Hot Wheels has been around for a long, long time. I used to play Hot Wheels when I was a young kid. This new Speed Snap Track System makes it effortless for the kids. I also think it’s important to play with your kids and enjoy the journey of being a kid and a dad.
Reader’s Digest: You’ve entered your 14th NFL season as the starting quarterback for the Giants. How has your approach to leadership on the field kind of evolved, especially now that you’re also leading a family at home?
Russell Wilson: There are a lot of similarities. I think leadership is always about servitude, to be able to make those around you better. Anytime you walk into the huddle and you’re trying to lead a football team down the field, a two-minute drive or throughout the season, whatever it may be—every day, it’s a process, and every day, it’s a journey. It’s a relationship business. The best part about it is the relationships and the family nature of it all. We’re all family on the football field. It’s an exciting time just to do what we love to do.
I also think there are a lot of similarities between playing quarterback, being a brother and being a father. I’m guiding a lot and being the big brother to a lot of my teammates. Giving them all my advice and all my experience has been really fun for me.
Reader’s Digest: You and Ciara are teaching your kids values like perseverance and teamwork. What is a recent moment where you saw one of your kids really start to embrace those lessons?
Russell Wilson: Our son Future has been competing and playing for a Little League Baseball team for the Yankees. The kids are older than him, but he’s competing at the highest level, and they actually won the World Series of the league. That was big. I think those moments are perseverance. Moments are really critical. That’s a sign of a great baseball player. There are moments in there that you may hit the ball really far, but the guy makes a good catch, and you’ve got to get over it and move on to the next at-bat.
I think the same thing in life too. Each day, each moment and each practice, he has enjoyed that part of it. He is embracing the challenge of it all and playing up in age.
Reader’s Digest: What’s a tough lesson you’ve learned on the field that you find yourself teaching your kids in a softer, more dad way at home?
Russell Wilson: You learn a lot on the field, but I think you learn a lot in life. I tell this to my today self: “You’ve got to keep going every day.” That’s part of my mentality—letting your feet hit the ground and keep running.
Reader’s Digest: You are multidimensional. You’re focusing on sports, you have a passion for music and you have multiple lifestyle brands, including the clothing brand 3BRAND. What is a personal moment or value that inspires your entrepreneurial endeavors?
Russell Wilson: It’s been exciting. 3BRAND has been massive. Ciara was pregnant with Win, and ironically, it was the day before she was going to have him. We were in Los Angeles at the time, and I just remember our son Future running across the room. He had a gray shirt on, and I said, “Babe, we need to create a kids clothing line.” I said we should call it 3BRAND, meaning sports, music and fashion—mind, body and soul. 3BRAND for the next generation.
What’s really cool about it is we could create something that’s really empowering for children and inspiring the community daily. So we partnered with Nike and had that. I wanted to create an apparel line that was inspirational and attainable for kids. A lot of the words on the clothes are my own personal words, slogans and motivations. We’ve also been giving back to the next generation and have been fortunate to give around almost $3 million to charities for kids.
Reader’s Digest: Balancing the intensity of an NFL schedule while being a present father is not a small feat. What are some nonnegotiable rituals you keep, no matter what your season looks like?
Russell Wilson: I try to take my kids to school on certain days of the week. For Ciara and me, as busy as we are, we always make sure we have our date night. When mom and dad are good, the kids are good. I’ve always believed that. It’s always important that you put your husband or your wife at the top of that list of your priorities. Then we have these moments where we hang out with the kids and play.
Rapid response with Russell Wilson
Want more fun tidbits about Russell Wilson? Check out his answers below.
Reader’s Digest: Cats or dogs?
Russell Wilson: Dogs.
Reader’s Digest: Aisle seat or window?
Russell Wilson: Window.
Reader’s Digest: Mornings or nights?
Russell Wilson: Both.
Reader’s Digest: Would you travel to the past or the future?
Russell Wilson: The past.
Reader’s Digest: What is your favorite breakfast food?
Russell Wilson: A croissant with eggs, cheese and sausage.
Reader’s Digest: If you weren’t a professional football quarterback, what would you be doing?
Russell Wilson: Playing second base for the Yankees.
Reader’s Digest: What advice would you give to your younger self?
Russell Wilson: Keep going.
*Editor’s note: Reader’s Digest does not endorse any specific products or services.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this interview with Russell Wilson, Reader’s Digest Associate Editor Mariah Thomas tapped her experiences as a celebrity interviewer, entertainment writer and editor of more than five years. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
