NFL star Russell Wilson defends himself after his Seattle Seahawks negotiations appear in Epstein files just days before team play Super Bowl

Former Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson has spoken out after his name cropped up in one of the millions of newly released Jeffrey Epstein e-mails shared by the US Department of Justice.

The latest swathe of documents, released on Friday (January 30), revealed questionable photos of then-Prince Andrew and alleged that Bill Gates 'caught an STI' from 'Russian girls' - claims he has vehemently denied.

It's understandable that football fans might have been confused to see Wilson's name appear, though he has since taken to social media to address things; however, it is also important to note that inclusion in the files does not indicate or suggest any wrongdoing.

It comes as his former NFL team is set face off against the New England Patriots during Sunday's Super Bowl (February 8).

The Seahawks most recently appeared in the 2015 Super Bowl, where they lost 28-24 to none other than the New England Patriots, making Sunday's game even higher stakes for the team, as if that was even possible.

But the Seahawks won the previous Super Bowl in 2014, beating the Denver Broncos 43-8 in their first victory.

This was largely led by quarterback Wilson, who completed 18 of 25 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, as ABC reported at the time.

Now, e-mails from 2019 between Epstein and his pilot, Larry Visoski, suggest the popular quarterback was supposedly eager to buy Epstein's private jet while trying to keep the deal on the down-low as he continued to negotiate his contract with the Seahawks.

Why is Russell Wilson mentioned in the Epstein files?

In the exchange, Visoski alleges that Wilson was calling 'non-stop' since viewing Epstein's Gulfstream G-IV. He then sets out Wilson's alleged 'dilemma' regarding his contract.

"Russell wants to sign his new contract with Seattle SeaHawks before letting the media and his team know that he is Purchasing a Plane, he is concerned it will effect his contract negotiations for some reason??" Visoski says.

"Russell is asking for a way to lock up the plane until his deal is signed, could be 2 weeks, or 2 months or more. He took many photos and video during the flight, with his Wife or girlfriend Ciara, (she's a fairly popular singer)."

He continued: "I truely think, he will perform after he signs his contract. Gary and I thought of a creative contract, to lock him in."

Visoski then suggests they hold the plane for Wilson, make him put non-refundable money down to reserve it and then have him pay ongoing costs while he decides.

Epstein responds to the proposal: "Easier is for him to purchase an option to buy the plane at 2. 7 million, the option expires in 90 days. option cost 500k."

What did Wilson say about it?

Swiftly taking to X, Wilson set the record straight, as he wrote: "NOPE!!! ABSOLUTELY NOT! Not TODAY satan!

"Some Random plane broker tried to sell me a plane. I had no idea whose plane and never bought the plane. Never talked nor Never met the man.

"Thank God!!!"

His publicist also told The Seattle Times on February 1 that he 'never purchased the aircraft, nor was he aware that any aircraft discussed by third parties had any connection to Epstein'.

Why were Wilson's Seahawks negotiations of interest?

The quarterback had spent seven years with the Seattle Seahawks when, in the lead-up to the 2019 season, he publicly set an April 15 deadline for a new contract extension with them, as The Ringer reported.

But as that deadline passed, the Seahawks didn’t immediately strike a deal, which fueled speculation that Wilson and the club were at odds.

There were reports that Wilson’s camp was pushing for certain contract protections - like ties to future salary cap increases - that Seattle was supposedly hesitant to include.

By April 16 that year, Wilson and the Seahawks finally agreed on a record-setting four-year, $140 million extension that at the time made him the highest-paid player in the NFL, as the organization itself explained.

As contracted, Wilson continued with the Seahawks until 2021 before he moved to the Denver Broncos - the very team the Seahawks defeated in their unlikely 2014 Super Bowl victory.

He stayed with them for two years before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024 and the New York Giants last year.