Super Bowl Champion Russell Wilson files for divorce

The National Football League’s offseason carries with it a great deal of intrigue. After the Super Bowl Champion is crowned, questions and stories abound about a particular team’s draft needs and free agency signings. Then comes offseason training activities (OTAs) and the annual draft. During these times, the public may not follow players very closely, but life certainly goes on for those who prepare for the upcoming season. This means that they may get married, have children and may get divorced without the public learning about it.

Unfortunately, this was not the case for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. The 25-year-old will begin his third season with the Seahawks in September, but it will be his first as a divorcee. He recently released a statement indicating that he and his wife, Ashton were going their separate ways. They were married shortly before Wilson began his rookie campaign in 2012.

By most accounts, the divorce will be amicable and may be straightforward considering the issues that most professional athletes face when terminating a marriage. Russell and Ashton have no children together, and Russell makes a modest salary for NFL standards. He stands to make about $550,000 this year, and will not be eligible to renegotiate his contract until next year. Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, in comparison, makes about $18 million per season.

Nevertheless, it is anticipated that spousal maintenance and asset division will be issues that will need to be resolved. Most Seahawk fans in Nevada will wish them well, while others may not even notice unless his play on the field suffers.

Source: The Seattle Times, “Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, wife divorcing after 2 years,” Bob Condotta, April 23, 2014