Wilson will be embarking on his media career in 2026, and he's gotten some sound advice.
Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is taking the next step in his career, but this time it's off the football field.
Wilson is swapping the field for the media as he becomes the latest high-profile player to try his hand in the media.
Granted, it doesn't work for everyone. Former Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten is proof of that, and Wilson will be getting down to business with CBS' The NFL Today and will be alongside Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson, and James Brown covering all things pre-game.
Given Wilson's standing among the league and what he accomplished, there are some who are likely intrigued to see how Russell views the game and how he gets that across to the audience.
But more importantly, he's going to have to be critical of players and what is produced on the field, and that can be hard for some to do because they are still close friends with those players.
However, two-time Super Bowl champ and fellow analyst Phil Simms is here to give Russell some words of advice, and Wilson would be wise to take them on board.
“Don’t be afraid. You just gotta say it, man,” Simms said on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams. "“Your job, my job is to tell the truth, and it’s really, really important. Because the fans only know what they read and what they hear. And so you have to do it for the player, the organization, their family, everything.”
That is sound advice from Simms, who has been in the media for years.
Now, will Russell have slip-ups here and there? Sure, as he gets used to his new career path, but I'd imagine CBS will get Wilson's feet wet in preseason games first so he can get a feel for what it could be like once the regular season rolls around.
Being truthful is the No. 1 thing. Say it as you see it, and for some, that can be hard because the players they are criticizing are the ones who they have developed a relationship with over the years.
But it isn't personal. It's business.
And part of the media business is to tell the truth, no matter how uneasy it makes you feel.
Time will tell if Wilson can follow through on that.
