“When I walked in the room and I saw, you know, little Future — he’s nine months at the time or whatever — he crawls in my lap and it was like, you know, this is going to be my responsibility,” Russell Wilson said this after Ciara made the NFL QB meet her step-son Future Zahir Wilburn. And today, it seems Wilson is happy to see the 10-year-old following his footsteps.

Like father, Future too loves sports. It is evident from the fact that, in the past, Future has attended many baseball and basketball games with his father or mother, with the likes of Stephen Curry taking Future under his wing at the All-Star game just minutes before tip-off. But now, as the football season is coming up, and his dad is excited to play with a new team, Future too has shifted his focus towards football. And guess what? It’s a Bring-Your-Kids-to-Work summer for the 9x Pro Bowl champion, and on the very first day, Future Jr. made his dad proud!

Son Future recently received high praise from his quarterback dad. In a shared Instagram story on Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers QB uploaded a picture of his first son, who worked today as a ball boy for Wilson’s team. The quarterback, who is proud of his son, wrote a special message for him,

“I’m so proud of you! Young boy becoming a Young Man! Working as a ball boy @steelers You are the sunshine of my life! Jesus first,” while tagging wife Ciara to the IG story with the tunes of “Good News” by Chandler Moore, Maverick City Music, and Naomi Raine, playing in the background. Not only that!

Russell took this excitement to his other social media platform, X. There, he informed his followers, “I’m full of Joy! Nothing better than seeing you smile & become a young man. I am so proud of you Future! Working as a ball boy for the @Steelers & in Locker Room. Being so dedicated to sports and everything you embark on! You’re the sunshine of my life. I love you. Keep Winning son! There is nothing you can’t do w/ Jesus on your side! Love you to Heaven & Back! [x3 black-heart emoticons]”

Recently, Russell Wilson informed the media how the young boy is stepping into the role. While narrating Future’s experiences with the team, Wilson said that he is showing independence by waking up and heading to breakfast on his own. Not only that but Zahir arrives early and stays late at camps, showing his determination and eagerness to put in extra hours to learn how to work effectively. However, besides praising the 10-year-old, Wilson also shared how seeing Future accompanying him into the camp reminded him of his own childhood.

Russell Wilson sees himself in his son, Future Zahir!

In an interview with Post-Gazette Sports recently, Russell Wilson mentioned how meaningful these moments are when he is with his children. Seeing Future accompanying him in the Steelers’ camps, Wilson recalled how he also did the same when he was a child. Reminiscing those moments, the nostalgic athlete said, “I grew up when my dad played professional football for a short period of time.”

He further added, “I got to see him when I was really young, be around NFL players and other athletes, and he was an agent at one point.” Hence, seeing his son today in the camp, working as a ball boy, practicing with professional players of the team in the pre-practice and post-practice sessions, and asking questions to them, has made his chest puff out.

During his camp experience, Future Zahir also got to see “some of the all-time greats (like T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward) doing their job,” just like his father did in his childhood. So, it won’t be wrong to say that Future is soaking up well with the Steelers. And who knows, someday he too might shine as a quarterback like his Super Bowl XLVIII Champion dad, who could be his mentor in that time!