Was Russell Wilson’s father a ball player? All we know know football star’s parents

Russell Wilson, 36, is recognized as a prominent football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). His parents, Harrison Wilson III and Tammy Wilson, welcomed him on November 29, 1988, in Cincinnati. They also had two other children, Harry and Anna.

Since the beginning, his parents have been his rock, supporting and motivating him to pursue his dreams of becoming an established athlete.

Did you know his father was a baseball player? According to a People Magazine report, he played on his school baseball team. While on the football field, he played as a wide receiver. In fact, he played while graduating from Dartmouth College as part of the class of 1977.

On the other hand, Tammy Wilson, Russell Wilson's mother, was a registered nurse in 1987. Over the years, she also became the Director of Patient Outreach and Care Management at the University of Washington Medicine, according to a Distractify report.

Here's what we know about football star Russell Wilson's parents

Though Russell Wilson was born in Cincinnati, he and his family later moved to Richmond. He shares a close bond with his parents and often expresses his affection for them in interviews. In a conversation with ESPN, Russell discussed his father being his inspiration:

"My dad, when I was young, he always inspired me."

Recalling his childhood days, the NFL star shared:

"He used to always ask me the question, 'Son, why not you? Why don't you play pro baseball? Why don't you play pro football?'"

While speaking with the American sports channel, Russell Wilson emphasized the idea that helped and influenced him to grow and achieve his goals.

"The idea of 'Why not you?' was really at the center of who I was. I started really subconsciously and consciously asking myself that question."

One of Harrison's four siblings, Benjamin, talked with Dartmouth College in 2014 and shared similarities between his brother and nephew.

He said:

"In addition to looking very much alike, they run alike, their mannerisms and their facial expressions are similar, their manner of speaking is similar. So it’s really striking."

The senior Wilson was an impeccable athlete. He played in the preseason for the San Diego Chargers in 1980.

Later, he attended the University of Virginia School of Law to study law and became a lawyer. Although he aimed to join the NFL for the long term, he soon left the sport and began his corporate career at Procter & Gamble.

At the age of 55, Harrison passed away on June 9, 2010, after suffering from diabetes.

Russell Wilson shared on the Lunch Talk Live show that during the COVID-19 outbreak in the USA, his mother helped build portable hospitals in and around the Seattle community so people could check for coronavirus and other health issues.