Russell Wilson made history becoming just the second African-American quarterback to win a Super Bowl as he led the Seattle Seahawks to a dominating 43-8 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Wilson—whose grandfather, Harry B. Wilson, Jr. is a former president of the historically Black university Norfolk State University—now joins Doug Williams formerly of the Washington NFL franchise as the only Black men to win a Super Bowl as starting quarterback. The Richmond, Va. native is, at 25, also the third youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
Wilson didn’t put up eye-popping stats in the Seahawks’ victory. But the second-year quarterback delivered a mistake-free performance and made just enough big plays to help his team claim its first world championship in franchise history.
Wilson finished 18-of-25 for 206 yards, two touchdowns and no turnovers.
But while Wilson was solid, Seattle’s defensive unit made its case to be known as the greatest defense ever. Everyone was anticipating a great matchup between the Seahawks’ No. 1 ranked defense against future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and the Broncos top-ranked offense. Manning set a National Football League (NFL) single-season record for touchdown passes this season with 55, but the Seahawks’ defense completely shut him down. Manning finished with just one touchdown with two interceptions and a fumble-sack.
Seattle linebacker Malcolm Smith was named the Super Bowl MVP; the third-year veteran intercepted a tipped pass by Manning and returned it 69-yards for pick-6 defensive touchdown.
Seattle’s victory is the most lopsided Super Bowl win since the Baltimore Ravens crushed the New York Giants, 34-7, in Super Bowl XXXV in 2001, and the largest margin of victory since the Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills, 52-17, in Super Bowl XXVII in 1993.
