Russell Wilson Says Hosting the ESPYs on Father’s Day Holds Great Significants For Him
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, United States Women’s National Team star Megan Rapinoe, and WNBA player Sue Bird are all getting ready to host the ESPYs this weekend, which also happens to be Father’s Day.
And in an interview obtained by People, Wilson shared that hosting the award show on Father’s Day holds great significants for him, especially after he lost his father 10 years ago. “You know, it’s going to be Father’s Day on the day of the ESPYs and I think about what my dad meant to me and I think about how far I’ve come and all the lessons he taught me.”
Harrison Wilson passed away due to complications stemmed by diabetes. The 31-year-old soon-to-be dad of three said he’s grateful for all the lessons his father was able to teach him before he died.
“The lessons of how to throw a ground ball to you know, how to always get up early and train hard, how to be the first one up — all the way through my education but, also, he taught me that the reality of what we’re going through right now in society is very real.”
Russell added that he is “grateful that I had a dad and a father figure that could prepare me for a moment like this;” moments like hosting the ESPYs, on Father’s Day, while the world is enduring a global health crisis, and also fighting to end police brutality and systematic racism.
And just being able to host the ESPYs in general feels right to him, even if this years ESPYs will be different than in year past as everything was filmed remotely. “Just to be able to try to uplift people. And I think that he was the biggest light that was in my life, even though he passed away.”
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The ESPYs are set to air on ESPN on June 21 at 9:00 p.m.
