NFL Draft: Look Back at Russell Wilson’s Ex-Wife Ashton Meem’s Viral Reaction on 2012 Draft Day After Seattle Seahawks Picked Him in 3rd Round

It’s been over a decade, but Ashton Meem’s unforgettable reaction to Russell Wilson being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2012 is still memorable. The viral clip, featuring Wilson’s then-wife screaming in sheer joy, has become a timeless meme, capturing the raw euphoria of a dream realized.

“I’ll never forget sitting at the couch, it was 2012. I was at my uncle’s house in DC. He had this white phone on an old school landline, nobody uses them anymore,” Wilson recalled in a 2022 interview with Fox 13 Seattle. “And the phone kept ringing, he’s a lawyer, clients were calling. I was like, ‘get off the phone, hopefully I’ve got teams calling for me.’ Sure enough the Seattle Seahawks buzzed my phone.”

At that moment, Meem, holding a puppy in one hand and a mug in the other, let out a primal scream of delight, her mouth wide open, her eyes locked on Wilson. It was a spontaneous outburst that perfectly encapsulated the elation of the moment – but to many fans, it was hilariously over-the-top, cementing the meme’s enduring humor.

In 2022 as the Draft approached, the moment once again took over social media. “In honor of the NFL Draft, may we never forget the night when Russell Wilson’s ex-wife thought she was set for life,” NFL Meme tweeted. While this tweet revisited the viral moment, it was also a subtle dig at Meem.

Wilson and Meem got married in 2012 at the Country Club of Virginia. 90 days later Wilson was picked by the Seahawks for a four-year $2.99 million contract. However, the couple got divorced two years later.

Ahead of the second round of Draft in 2020, ESPN analyst Emmanuel Acho even seemed to caution against such behavior advising players’ loved ones not to emulate the smugness some attributed to Meem’s meme-worthy celebration.

He tweeted a photo of Meem with Wilson on draft day in 2012 and an image of the quarterback with his current wife Ciara. In the caption he wrote, “As we prepare for day 2 of the #NFLDraft, girlfriends remember to play it cool. It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.”

Wilson’s move to Seattle in 2012 was met with some skepticism but he proved the doubters wrong as he led the NFC West franchise to their first Super Bowl success.

Russell Wilson’s move to the Seattle Seahawks proved to be a success

While the viral Draft Day clip captured a joyous moment in Wilson’s personal life, his professional journey is still on the roll. After joining the Seahawks, Wilson’s debut season saw him rank fourth in the NFL passer rating. He threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns, tying Peyton Manning’s record for most touchdowns thrown by a rookie, and rushed for 489 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2013 he led Seattle to their first Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl XLVIII. He made another Super Bowl appearance a year later, but the Seahawks lost to New England Patriots. Wilson became the first quarterback in NFL history to start two Super Bowls in his first three professional seasons. He stayed with the Seahawks till 2021, before moving to the Denver Broncos in 2022.

Now, Wilson is embarking on a new chapter, having agreed to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although the contract is reported to be around the league minimum of $1.21 million, with Wilson still receiving nearly $38 million from the Denver Broncos, his addition is projected to significantly improve the Steelers’ win total and playoff chances.

Much like his viral Draft Day reaction, Wilson’s move to Pittsburgh promises to be the start of a new, exciting chapter in his storied career, one that football enthusiasts around the country will be watching with bated breath. What are your favorite NFL Draft Day moments?