Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson pulled out all the stops this holiday season.
Taking to X on Tuesday, the Steelers’ social media team showcased the thoughtful gifts that Wilson gave to his 14 offensive lineman ahead of Pittsburgh’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas.
Each one of the lineman was presented with a $10,000 Airbnb gift card that can be cashed in anywhere across the world, a Louis Vuitton duffel bag in yellow and black, a pair of Custom-made Steelers shoes from Good Man Brand – Wilson’s clothing brand – and a bottle of his wife Ciara’s TenToOne Rum.
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This is hardly the first time that Wilson has gone all out for his teammates’ gifts. On the heels of signing a four-year, $140 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 – making him the highest-paid player in the NFL at the time – the signal-caller gifted each of his 13 offensive lineman $12,000 in Amazon stock.
In a letter provided to every recipient, Wilson wrote: “You sacrifice your physical and mental well-being to protect, which in turn allows me to provide and care for my family. This does not go unnoticed and is never forgotten. Now it is my turn to return the favor. I would not be where I am today without you working to be great day in and day out.
“When I sat down to think about ways to honor your dedication, a dozen different ideas came to mind. Some were flashy, some were cool, but I wanted to give you something that has lasting impact. Something that would affect the lives of you, your family and your children.
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“We all have dreams of what we can build and accomplish off the field,” he continued. “One important lessons I have learned thus far in my career: The memories on the field will last forever, but we have to constantly prepare for life after football.
“One of the ways I prepare is by investing in companies and ideas I believe will grow and change the world. One of these companies is Amazon. I am gifting you and your family $12,000 worth of Amazon stock to help you achieve your dreams. You have invested in my life… this is my investment in yours.”
Since joining the Steelers on a one-year, $1.21 million contract over the offseason, Wilson has completed 174-of-268 passes for 2,129 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions en route to commanding Pittsburgh to a 10-5 record and playoff berth.
It remains to be seen whether Wilson remains in Pittsburgh following the 2024-25 campaign, however, given his expiring contract. The 36-year-old, for one, believes he still has plenty left in the tank to play at a high level in the NFL, informing ESPN’s Hannah Storm back in November: “I definitely want to play another five to seven years.
“I think that’s always been my mindset, is the longevity of the game… I feel great, I feel young, I feel like I can still move around out there and make all the decisions and all the throws.”
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