The 1,000 Percent Quote From a #1 Overall Pick That Tells You Everything About His Son's NFL Future
Alright, listen up, 12s, because sometimes a story just hits you right in the feels, no matter which colors are on the jersey. We all know how much we live and breathe Seahawks football here in the Emerald City, but you gotta appreciate greatness, right? And today, we're talking about a true NFL legend, Russell Maryland, the guy who was the No. 1 pick back in the 1991 NFL Draft and snagged three Super Bowl rings in his career. The big news? His son, RJ Maryland, is now a rookie tight end with the Green Bay Packers, and Russell is absolutely bursting with pride as his son gets his shot in the league!
From #1 Pick to Proud Papa
Russell Maryland, a man who knows a thing or two about making it in the NFL, wrapped up his own incredible career in 2000, even starting 16 games for the Packers that final season. So, for his son to follow in his footsteps, to even get a chance, that's just electric. You can feel the emotion when Russell talks about it, saying, "It’s an incredible feeling to know that he even has a shot to do something that I was able to do all those years ago." He gets it, man. He knows how hard it is to make it. "If anybody has a son or a daughter, for that matter, but in this case, the son to make it to the highest level of the professional ranks of the NFL, it’s always a special thing. So, I am 100 , 1,000 , percent behind him.” A thousand percent! That’s the kind of dad support every kid dreams of, especially when they're chasing an NFL dream.
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The Dad Life: Chauffeur to NFL Dreams
You think being a Super Bowl champion means you stop being a dad? Nope! Russell Maryland spent his retirement being what he called a "cheerleader dad," a "volleyball dad," even a chauffeur for his two older daughters who were track and volleyball athletes, and cheerleaders. He truly believes seeing his kids take charge and work hard at something is the real reward, whether it’s sports or playing the flute. And that dedication started super early for RJ.
Russell shared some awesome memories of training RJ from when he was just six years old. Picture this: waiting for the school bus, Russell and RJ would spend 10 minutes working on basketball dribbling or throwing the football. Ten minutes a day, five days a week, that’s 50 extra minutes of skill work every single week, over years! Russell loved that time. "I was just glad, for one, that I had the time as a dad to be able to do that and, for two, that I had the ability to be able to work with my son on something that he absolutely loved, and I loved to see him do.” That’s how legends are made, folks, with hard work and a dad who's 1,000 percent behind you!
So, RJ Maryland is just starting his journey, taking that first step into the NFL. What's at stake? Everything! He's working to prove himself as a rookie tight end, trying to carve out his own legacy. It's a long season, and every rep, every practice, every snap is a chance to show what he's got. You know we'll be watching to see how this story unfolds!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.