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$87.6M

Wilson inks contract extension with Seattle Seahawks

Free Press staff, wire reports | 8/7/2015, 1:45 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has millions of reasons to be wearing one of the biggest smiles in the team’s ...
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is all smiles at a training camp news conference last week following the announcement of successful negotiations extending Wilson’s contract with Seattle through 2019. Photo by Associated Press Stephen Brashear

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has millions of reasons to be wearing one of the biggest smiles in the team’s training camp this week in Renton, Wash.

The former standout out at the Collegiate Schools in Henrico County was recognized as one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks last week when he signed a four-year, $87.6 million contract extension that includes a $31 million signing bonus.

“Blessed to be w/ this organization for 4 more years! Can’t wait to get on field w/ the fellas! @Seahawks #ChampionshipMindset,” a jubilant Wilson tweeted.

With the July 31 signing, Wilson will remain in Seattle through the 2019 season — the year he turns 31 — giving him the opportunity at another big paycheck down the road.

“He’s really competitive. No surprise, right? He’s really competitive like the rest of us,” Seattle Coach Pete Carroll said. “So it was emotional to some extent, but I think in his heart, he knew that we wanted this to happen. We were going to get it done. We were going to find a way and he handled himself beautifully throughout the process.”

It’s one of the richest contracts in football history, slotting Wilson slightly behind Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and just ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger in the hierarchy of quarterback contracts on per-year average.

It’ll likely get passed when Indianapolis Colts star Andrew Luck signs his next deal, but for now it pays Wilson at an elite level for helping lead the franchise to consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

“For me, I just want to be paid based on what I’m worth, what I’ve produced, whatever that means. For me, I just let the play speak for itself,” Wilson said.

“That’s not my job to kind of do all that,” he continued. “That’s why I hire (agent) Mark Rodgers and that’s why I trust him to figure everything out for me, work everything out. And sure enough, it did. And I get to play here for another four more years. Couldn’t be much better.”

Wilson has been a bargain for Seattle. The 2015 season was the first time he was scheduled to make more than $1 million. That’s now just $700,000 in base salary for 2015 with a $31 million signing bonus — $20 million now and the other $11 million next April — more than making up for the shortfall.

Last season, Wilson threw for 3,475 yards and 20 touchdowns against just seven interceptions in the regular season. He added another 849 yards rushing and six scores, and saved some of his most memorable moments for the playoffs.

He had the Seahawks on the cusp of a second straight title. Wilson got Seattle to the New England 1-yard line in the final seconds of the Super Bowl, only to be intercepted by Malcolm Butler who clinched the Patriots’ 28-24 victory.

Wilson holds the NFL record for most wins in his first three seasons and was the third-youngest quarterback in league history to win a Super Bowl title.

The 26-year-old Wilson was a Pro Bowl selection in the 2012 season and also in the 2013 campaign, when he led the Seahawks to their maiden Super Bowl victory.

A third-round draft choice by Seattle in the 2012 NFL Draft, Wilson has started all 48 regular season games he has played for the Seahawks, completing nearly 65 percent of his pass attempts for 9,950 yards, with 72 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.

In the postseason, he has started all eight games while completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,820 yards, with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.