ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Congratulations, first of all, to Russell Wilson for becoming a 35-year-old NFL quarterback.
Not many make it that far. Otto Graham, Joe Namath and Troy Aikman played their last games at 34. Terry Bradshaw played one game at 35 and no more. Those are just some of the Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
Wilson turned 35 on Wednesday, which also happened to be the Broncos quarterback’s weekly news conference day. The plan – his plan – is to have at least five more of his birthday celebrations while he’s still an NFL quarterback.
“I remember coming into this league 12 years ago, and my goal was to play til over 40-plus,’’ Wilson said. “I feel great. I feel young, I feel fast, I feel confident. All of the above.
“But when you’re around a group of young stars around here, it keeps you young.”
Wilson is playing much better in the season he turned 35 than he did when he turned 34. He has 20 touchdown passes against just 4 interceptions, plus 266 yards rushing through 11 games as he turned 35 Wednesday.
Last year, he had 8 touchdown passes against 5 interceptions with 137 yards rushing as he turned 34 last year. Wilson and his team are on a five-game winning streak now as they prepare to play Sunday in Houston. The Broncos were in the midst of a five-game losing streak at this time last year.
He was confident then, and still confident now, he can keep playing past his 40th birthday.
“I’ve still got a little speed. I’ve still got quickness,’’ Wilson said. “I think the biggest thing is when you have a plan you set out to, I set out to it a long time ago. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a 365day mentality. There are no off days. You don’t have another option on trying to be great every day. That just has to be your mentality. Every day I get up, I make sure I move around, keep my body moving and working out and everything else. And I think the biggest thing is I have an obsession and passion for the game. Learning the game, playing the game. Being out there, winning, all of the above. That’s the part that makes it fun.”
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