Russell Wilson will become just the sixth NFL quarterback to start in the Super Bowl before the end of his second season.
Speaking with NFL Media's Michael Irvin for a feature that aired on NFL Network's "NFL GameDay Morning" on Sunday, Wilson addressed the fact that he was the sixth quarterback drafted in 2012.
"I'm very competitive," Wilson said. "I believe I could be picked before all those guys, but it wasn't going to affect me either way. I knew that the Seattle Seahawks were going to pick me. I was going to make the 31 other teams regret it."
The 5-foot-11 Wilson, who has had doubters at every stage of his career, said he asked his teammates earlier this season to believe the Super Bowl was within reach.
"I remember my dad asking me one time, and it's something that has always stuck with me: 'Why not you, Russ?' You know, why not me? Why not me in the Super Bowl? So in speaking to our football team earlier in the year, I said, 'Why not us? Why can't we be there?'"
They are there, and Wilson is a huge reason. Even when he has struggled this season, he's made enough big plays to lead his team to victory.
One more thing to note during Sunday's Super Bowl: Peyton Manning's backup, Brock Osweiler, was one of the quarterbacks drafted before Wilson.
Live from New York, it's the NFL "Around The League Podcast" Super Bowl Preview!