Russell Wilson says he knew from day 1 that helping Ciara raise her son Future would become his new blessing and responsibility in life, comparing himself to Jesus’ dad. The former Broncos QB appeared on the “I Am Athlete” podcast, where he discussed his marriage with Ciara and the fact that he plays stepdad to her son, Future, who she shares with rapper Future.

Wilson says he felt God was talking to him to tell him that not only was Ciara the one for him, but that raising her son was also something he was destined to do as well. He says he knew this from the moment he met Ciara, which apparently also included a meet and greet with then-𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 Future.

Wilson said, “He crawls in my lap, and it was like, you know, this is going to be my responsibility. I remember leaving that night and God saying to me, ‘Raising this child, it’s going to be your responsibility.’ And realizing, praying to God, ‘Are you sure this is what you want me to do?’ He said, ‘Son, this is for you.’” Becoming a stepdad was an “opportunity” for Wilson, who knew Ciara “was the one for me.” He welcomed the responsibility with open arms.

He continued, “I was ready for that. I love children. I love kids and everything else, but it was like, man, to help raise a child, understanding that, [saying], ‘OK, God, you’re going to give me this opportunity. What a gift.’ Even Jesus himself — Joseph was a stepdad. It wasn’t biologically his. It’s been an amazing journey, obviously, raising four kids.” Along with Future Jr., Wilson and Ciara, 38, share daughters Sienna, 6, and Amora, 2 months, and son Win, 3. The couple tied the knot in 2016, two years after Ciara split from Future.

Wilson said, “Fatherhood is a direct reflection of what God has done for us. Unconditional love, to be able to love us in the midst of it all, to be able to be there for us, to be able to provide, to be able to care for us, to be able to show up for us every day. Not just physically but also mentally and spiritually.” Before meeting Ciara, Wilson wrote on paper his deal breakers for a relationship.

He said, “Not to be cold but it’s like, it’s a partnership. We’re going to spend the rest of our lives together; we’re going to have these kids together, we’re going to raise these children together, we’re going to make decisions together — like, so it’s — it’s a partnership. And so, in any partnership, [you’ve] got to have your non-negotiables.”

Ciara has also been candid about the perks of motherhood. “The joy the kids bring me every day is beyond my wildest dreams,” she told Us Weekly exclusively in July 2023. “They’re just so funny and make my life so full. While it is an all-day job and so, so hard a lot of the time, everything truly is worth it in spades!”

Lauren McKeithen is a University of Maryland Un