It’s been a tough week for Russell Wilson.
Just days after the Steelers were eliminated from Super Bowl contention in a wild-card whopping, the quarterback and his wife, Ciara, announced on Thursday that their Great Dane, Prince, had passed away.
Prince, a two-time cancer survivor, was 12.
Wilson and Ciara commemorated the life of their beloved four-legged friend in a pair of Instagram posts.
“‘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,” Wilson wrote in the caption of his post.
“You will forever be a part of us. 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.”
Ciara echoed those sentiments in a post to her own account.
“Forever with us. Forever in our hearts. Forever Thankful for the amazing memories you gave us. We will miss you so much and we will always love you Prince!” the singer, songwriter and dancer wrote.
Wilson, a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014, became a free agent after the Steelers fell at the hands of Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC wild-card round.
The veteran signal-caller has been vocal in his appreciation for the second chance he was granted in Pittsburgh after the debacle he endured in Denver.
And though he hopes to be balling for the black and gold this time next season, he also understands that his future with the team is largely at the mercy of the powers that be.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers organization man, it’s been such a blessing to be here,” Wilson said after the wild-card loss, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“We got a special organization with special people, special players and a special fanbase. It’s been truly a blessing in my life — it’s been one of the best years for me, personally, to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. Obviously I hope I’m here [next year].”