Russell Wilson returns to baseball roots with Savannah Bananas
Russell Wilson was back in the spotlight this weekend, donning a yellow uniform for some Banana Ball at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The appearance marked a return to the Super Bowl winning quarterback's roots.
Wilson, who led the Seahawks to a win in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, joined the Savannah Bananas for a matchup against the Party Animals. The opponent beat the Bananas 7-2, handing them their second loss of the year.
"Fun Times with the Fans!," Wilson wrote in a post on X Sunday. "My kids loved the day! Thanks Jesse Cole for the Call! I remember you were my GM when I was 19 years old! Proud of the movement you've built!"
https://twitter.com/dangerusswilson/status/2048591010955981309?s=46
The Savannah Bananas are a far cry from your typical baseball team. With in-game performances, including choreographed games and a plethora of viral moments, the team has repeatedly sold out ballparks across the county over the past years.
Wilson's appearance may seem random to those unfamiliar with his roots. But he was actually drafted by MLB teams twice. The first time was straight out of high school in 2007, when the Baltimore Orioles drafted him in the 41st round. Three years later, the Colorado Rockies drafted him in the fourth round.
Though he never played in a major-league game, Wilson joined the Texas Rangers for spring training in 2014 and 2015. The Rangers selected Wilson as the 24th overall pick in the MLB Rule 5 draft.
He returned to the baseball diamond and was greeted with a big ovation after being announced as a special celebrity guest player. Wilson hit the ball in the fifth inning, with a piece of his bat breaking as he sprinted toward first base. His ground ball to first was ultimately a trick play (a Banana Ball specific rule that incorporates entertaining maneuvers) that ended the inning.
https://twitter.com/DangeRussWilson/status/2048599060223787182
Wilson spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Seahawks beginning in 2012. He led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win during the 2013 season at just 25 years old and was a nine-time Pro Bowl player with the team.
The quarterback was traded to the Broncos in 2022, later moving to play for the Steelers and ending up with the New York Giants for the 2025 season. Wilson was benched just weeks into the 2025 season in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart in September.
The 37-year-old is currently an unrestricted free agent. He told reporters in January that he wants to continue playing in the NFL.
https://twitter.com/SNYGiants/status/2008189199590056085?s=20
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 9:39 AM.