Russell Wilson throwing footballRussell Wilson (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Russell Wilson is going through something very difficult at the moment, having lost his longtime pet.

The veteran quarterback has started his offseason following a campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The season ended in disappointment for the nine-time Pro Bowler, as the Steelers were bounced in the first round, and his week just got a lot worse.

Wilson took to social media on Thursday to announce that Prince, the dog he got in his rookie year over a decade ago, has died. The QB shared four photos of Prince as he revealed that the beloved pet survived two battles with cancer and went on to live a lot longer than expected.

“Prince’ 12 years ago you came into my life. I got you my rookie year & you have been a blessing to our family with so many memories, hugs and kisses from our 4 kids and us. You will forever be a part of us,” he wrote “Today was a hard day. But you overcame cancer 2x and lived 12 years when most live 6. Heaven got a good one! Forever the Prince of Peace. Love you.”

Anyone who has lost a dog knows how gut-wrenching it is, so our hearts go out to Russell Wilson and his family during what must be a difficult time.

Russell Wilson Will Be A Free Agent This Year

Meanwhile, Russell Wilson is set to enter free agency, having signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh in 2024.

The 37-year-old started 11 games for the AFC outfit, missing the first six fixtures due to injury.

Performance-wise, it was a mixed bag for Wilson. He achieved a passer rating of 95.6, throwing for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns, along with five interceptions. He completed 63.7 percent of his passes, averaging 7.4 yards per attempt while getting sacked 33 time for a loss of 219 yards.

Wilson is headed into the offseason without a contract but wants to return to the Steelers for 2025.

“Obviously, I hope I’m here,” he told reporters after the Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. “I trust God, whenever that is. And it’s a special, special place. And I know God brought me here for a reason.”

Both Wilson and Justin Fields will be free agents this year, so it will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh goes about its business, especially regarding the QB position.