Russell Wilson’s not afraid to act too soon, even in the event Peyton Manning doesn’t decide to retire as a Super Bowl winner.
Wilson penned a heartfelt thank-you letter to Manning and published it on The Players’ Tribune on Monday, just in case “This is It.” The “this” to which Wilson refers is Manning’s potential retirement at age 39 after 18 seasons of professional football and two championships, most recently Sunday when the Denver Broncos topped the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
Toward the end of the letter, Wilson, 27, describes the way Manning inspired him over the years to love the game (presumably enough to become a top quarterback himself).
“If this is it, there’s one moment I won’t forget,” Wilson writes.
“10th grade. Louisiana. At your quarterback camp.
“You inspired the kid in the green shirt.
“You inspired me to work hard. To be disciplined. To be retspectful. To take notes.
“You inspired me to love the process. To love the sweat. To love the tears.
“But most of all …
“You inspired me to love the game.”
Wilson’s letter was both poignant and timely. Manning isn’t answering any retirement questions at the moment. The Broncos quarterback will let everyone know whether Wilson wrote too quickly when he decides the time is right to announce a decision.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@ESPNagora
