Brady Russell Bio
Brady Russell is an American professional football fullback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 250 pounds, he wears jersey number 38 and serves in a versatile role that includes fullback and tight end duties.
Russell began his NFL journey as an undrafted free agent, briefly spending time in Philadelphia before finding a home in Seattle. His career has been defined by steady special teams contributions, position versatility, and a championship moment on one of the league’s biggest stages.
Early Life and Background
Brady Russell was born on August 31, 1998, at Camp Pendleton in California. His upbringing was shaped by a family with deep ties to football across multiple programs. His father, Randy, and his uncle, Marc Booth, both played for the Arkansas Razorbacks, while another uncle, Matt, played for the Colorado Buffaloes and later became an executive with the Philadelphia Eagles. His brother, Cody, played for the Northern Colorado Bears, and a second brother, Tyler, ran track at Navy.
Russell attended Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he started out as a track athlete before switching to football. He played defensive end and some tight end, earning team most valuable player honors as both a junior and a senior. He was twice named first-team All-Front Range League on defense and added one second-team selection on offense.
Coming out of high school, Russell was rated as a two-star recruit. He chose to walk on at Football Bowl Subdivision program Colorado rather than accept a scholarship offer from Football Championship Subdivision school Northern Colorado, a decision that set the tone for a determined path through college football.
Path to American Football
Arriving at Colorado in 2017 as a true freshman, Russell spent time learning the outside linebacker and tight end positions while contributing on the scout team. His early effort was recognized when he was named Colorado’s 2017 Offensive Scout Player of the Year. The following off-season, he impressed enough in training camp to earn a scholarship, an unusually quick turnaround for a walk-on.
By 2018, Russell had climbed to second on the depth chart at tight end and finished the year with five receptions for 41 yards. In 2019, he emerged as a reliable target, hauling in 23 catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns, exceeding the combined output of Colorado tight ends across the previous three seasons.
He was named a team captain in 2020 before an injury in the second game ended his season. Russell returned with his strongest year in 2021, posting a team-leading 25 receptions for 307 yards and earning a nomination for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best player who began his career as a walk-on.
Brady Russell Career
Early Career (2023)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Brady Russell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. His initial stint in Philadelphia was short, as he was waived on August 29, 2023, and quickly re-signed to the practice squad.
The brief Eagles chapter gave Russell his first taste of a professional roster, even if regular-season playing time was limited. The arrangement kept him within reach of an active call-up as teams finalized their early-season rosters.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Russell was signed off the Eagles’ practice squad to the Seattle Seahawks’ 53-man roster on September 20, 2023. He went on to play in 15 games during his first Seattle season, logging 7 tackles while taking about 2 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. The experience established him as a reliable depth piece and core special teams contributor.
In 2024, Russell made 11 appearances for the Seahawks, working mostly on special teams. On January 2, 2025, a foot injury sent him to injured reserve and ended his season, a setback that interrupted an otherwise consistent year of availability.
On April 9, 2025, Russell signed his exclusive rights free agent contract to remain in Seattle. During the 2025 off-season, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak moved him from tight end to fullback, a position Kubiak planned to use more prominently than his predecessor, Ryan Grubb. Russell made the Seahawks’ 53-man roster as the backup fullback behind Robbie Ouzts.
Driving Style and Strengths
Russell’s game is built on physicality, positional flexibility, and reliable special teams play. He has shown the willingness to switch between tight end and fullback, embracing the blocking-heavy responsibilities that come with a traditional fullback role in a run-oriented scheme. His background as a walk-on who earned a scholarship through persistence has carried into his professional approach, with coaches pointing to his dependability in practice and willingness to do the unglamorous work.
Notable Events and Milestones
The headline moment of Russell’s career came when he played in Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 victory over the New England Patriots. The championship capped a steady climb from undrafted free agent to Super Bowl contributor and remains the defining milestone of his early professional tenure. On March 12, 2026, Russell re-signed with Seattle on a two-year, $4.8 million contract, a clear sign of the organization’s long-term plans for him at fullback.
Brady Russell Career Wins
Russell has accumulated his professional hardware primarily through team success rather than individual accolades. Through the 2025 season, his NFL statistical line includes 31 total tackles and 1 fumble recovery, with most of his impact coming on special teams and in a hybrid blocking role.
Seattle Seahawks Highlights
Russell joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2023 and has since appeared in multiple regular-season games across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns. His first significant win as a Seahawk came as part of the Super Bowl LX championship run, where he was part of the active roster that lifted the trophy. As of the 2025 season, he operates as the primary backup fullback behind Robbie Ouzts.
Other Wins and Performances
Before the NFL, Russell was a two-time first-team All-Front Range League defensive selection and a team MVP at Fossil Ridge High School. At Colorado, his 2021 season produced a team-leading 25 receptions for 307 yards and a Burlsworth Trophy nomination, the kind of breakthrough that helped him earn an NFL opportunity.
Brady Russell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Russell comes from a multi-sport family with football ties at several major programs. His father Randy and uncle Marc Booth played for the Arkansas Razorbacks, while uncle Matt played for the Colorado Buffaloes and later joined the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office. Brother Cody played for the Northern Colorado Bears, and brother Tyler ran track at Navy, giving Russell a deep athletic support network across his formative years.
Personal Life
Brady Russell is an American by nationality and was raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, after being born at Camp Pendleton in California. Public details about his spouse, children, or marital status are not widely confirmed, and he has generally kept his personal life private while focusing on his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a clear new chapter for Brady Russell, who transitioned from tight end to fullback under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. He entered the year as the backup fullback behind Robbie Ouzts and made Seattle’s 53-man roster out of training camp, a notable step forward after an injury-shortened 2024 campaign that ended on injured reserve in early January 2025.
Russell’s role expanded under Kubiak’s scheme, which placed greater emphasis on the fullback position than the previous offense. He contributed on special teams and in his hybrid lead-blocking duties, helping set the tone for a run game that became a bigger part of Seattle’s identity during the year.
The season delivered the biggest prize of Russell’s career when he suited up for Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 victory over the New England Patriots. With a fresh two-year contract in place by March 2026 and a defined role in Seattle’s offense, Russell’s outlook going forward centers on locking down the fullback job and continuing to deliver in the run game and on special teams.
