Russell Wilson celebrates after the Seahawks beat the Packers for the NFC Championship on Jan. 18 in Seattle. (Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com)
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson has a lot at stake in Super Bowl XLIX.
Wilson, 26, will supplant Tom Brady as the youngest quarterback to win two Super Bowls if the Seahawks defeat New England at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Wilson has a chance to increase his record to 11-0 against Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks. If the Seahawks win, Wilson will be 2-0 against Brady – the same record he has against Denver’s Peyton Manning.
“In terms of my legacy on the field, I want to be considered a winner – win, win, win,” Wilson said. “That’s all that really matters at the end of the day.”
In his first three seasons, Wilson has won six more games than any quarterback in history. His record is 42-13, including 6-1 in the playoffs.
In 2013, Wilson helped the Seahawks beat Manning and the Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Just imagine a third-year quarterback averaging only 26 passes and 17 completions leading his team to back-to-back Super Bowl victories over Manning and Brady.
“It’s been an exciting three years of my life, but this year has been really special,” Wilson said. “To win the Super Bowl last year, to go against a great quarterback in Peyton and then to face Tom Brady this year – two guys that I’ve looked up to since I was a little kid – is a tremendous honor.
“Playing Peyton last year and Tom this year is something I’ll never forget. I’m just grateful to be on the same field with them. It’s a great honor.
“I want to be the best. To be the best, you have to beat the best. It’s history. I just hope we can make history.”
The Seahawks are trying to keep Brady from winning a fourth Super Bowl and tying Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana for the most victories by a quarterback.
Brady is effusive in his praise for Wilson.
“He’s a phenomenal player, a phenomenal leader for his team,” Brady said. “Every quarterback has a different way to get things done. It’s all your skillset and what your ability is to either throw it or run it and the ability to move the ball down the field through creating first downs and ultimately scoring points.
“You try to play to the strengths of your players. Russell has a lot of strengths. He’s obviously a great competitor. A couple of those overtime games where they’ve gone right down the field and scored, I think that’s all you really need to know about a guy like that. He played great in the Super Bowl last year. It’s going to be a great matchup.”
To Wilson, success extends off the field, too. His faith is important to him.
“In terms of my legacy off the field, I want to be a Christian man that helps lead and helps change lives and helps serve other people,” he said. “It’s not about me, you know? It’s about helping other people.”
Wilson puts in a lot of hours off the field working in the community. But he’s even more dedicated on the field.
“This is a guy that really logs in the hours,” center Max Unger said. “You can tell. It’s showing up. His progression in the offense has been awesome. It’s been what you want from a guy, and I think his win-loss record justifies that.”
Receiver Jermaine Kearse caught the touchdown pass that beat Green Bay in overtime in the NFC Championship game.
“He really takes control,” Kearse said. “When you have a guy like that, you’ll have guys that follow. And we follow.
“You see it game after game. When things aren’t going quite well, he rallies us together, and guys follow his lead.”
Wilson is a dynamic leader who’s an outstanding runner, too. He can beat opponents with his arm and his legs.
His coaches and teammates – as well as his opponents – marvel at his poise, his attention to detail and his cerebral approach to the game.
“I think the mental aspect’s huge, just being locked in all the time and being able to motivate other guys,” Wilson said. “My goal is to make the other 10 guys better on the field.
“Through ups and downs, you stay mentally focused, stay mentally locked into it, and you keep fighting for one another. I never want to change. I want to be that even-keel person but also the guy that’s always going to be positive and motivating.”
Sometime after the Super Bowl, Wilson will become one of the highest-paid players in NFL history. The Seahawks plan to extend his contract with one year remaining.
“I really honestly haven’t thought anything about it,” he said. “I’m just blessed to be on this team and for us to be a part of it.
“God willing, if that happens, it’s great. The focus is on winning the second Super Bowl and trying to find a way to win this game and go 1-0.”
Coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider are responsible for drafting Wilson in the third round in 2012. Because he’s only 5-foot-10 5/8, he lasted until the 75th pick.
“I don’t think we can have a better guy for the Seahawks,” Carroll said. “He gives us such a dynamic approach to the position in just the football aspect of it.
“He’s such a tremendous passer. He can pass inside the pocket or on the move and all the structured stuff, but then he has the dynamic ability to get out of the pocket and create and really, with his legs, running, as well as passing, his ability to run the full gamut of what you would hope a quarterback could do.
“That’s not even to mention the leadership qualities, the character that he brings, the tremendous competitiveness. He’s a perfect fit for us.”
Author John McClain has covered the NFL for the Houston Chronicle for more than 30 years. Visit seattlepi.com for more Seattle Seahawks news. Contact sports editor Nick Eaton at 206-448-8125, nickeaton@seattlepi.com or @njeaton.