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Russell Wilson Retires, Joins CBS as NFL Analyst

6/4/2026

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Summary

Russell Wilson Retires, CBS

Russell Wilson, 37, announced his retirement in a video titled “Thank You, Football, Love, #3” and will join CBS Sports as an analyst on The NFL Today, replacing Matt Ryan after Ryan became Atlanta Falcons’ president of football operations.
Wilson retired with 46,966 passing yards, 353 touchdowns, 5,568 rushing yards, 31 rushing touchdowns, 10 Pro Bowls, a Super Bowl XLVIII win and the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Summary

Russell Wilson Donates

Russell Wilson and his wife Ciara pledged 10 million meals to Feeding America via Wheels Up.
Wilson made weekly hospital visits to sick children throughout his career.
His final playing contract was a one-year, $10.5 million deal with the New York Giants after a five-year, $245 million extension with Denver.
CBS hired Wilson as an analyst on “The NFL Today” after Matt Ryan became the Atlanta Falcons’ president of football.

Summary

Russell Wilson Retires

The Giants benched Wilson after three starts, installing rookie Jaxson Dart and ending the career of the shortest starting quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl.
In his retirement video, Wilson reflected on discipline, faith, resilience, thanked coaches, teammates and fans for brotherhood and memories, and showed Seattle Children’s Hospital footage.
CBS Sports emerged as the leading network in talks to hire Wilson as an analyst on The NFL Today.

History

Historical Context

John Madden retired after ten seasons as Oakland’s head coach in 1978, and his move into television paved the way for former Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler, who later became a CBS color commentator. In 2024, Russell Wilson’s shift to CBS’s “The NFL Today” follows that same player-to-broadcast trend, extending former athletes’ influence on NFL media.

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Russell Wilson Retires, CBS

Russell Wilson, 37, announced his retirement in a video titled “Thank You, Football, Love, #3” and will join CBS Sports as an analyst on The NFL Today, replacing Matt Ryan after Ryan became Atlanta Falcons’ president of football operations.
Wilson retired with 46,966 passing yards, 353 touchdowns, 5,568 rushing yards, 31 rushing touchdowns, 10 Pro Bowls, a Super Bowl XLVIII win and the Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

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