“Proud of Me”: Packers RB Remembers His Fathers Passing, Coinciding With the Anniversary of His NFL Debut

Emmanuel Wilson went from being a private HBCU college student to becoming a star for the Packers. Last night, the rookie running back showcased his dedication by assisting QB1 Jordan Love. In the preseason game, he managed to secure touchdowns, including an impressive 80-yard run against the Bengals.

However, this game held a deeper significance for Wilson. Fourteen years ago, on the exact same day as his recent performance, he lost his father. Despite this emotional backdrop, Wilson managed to score & rise against the Bengals.

A bittersweet day for Emmanuel Wilson

After the game media got to ask rookie RB some significant questions on this special day. When questioned by the media about his emotions on this day, he humbly responded, “I can’t really explain the emotions, but I just know that he’s [father] proud of me for reaching my goals and everything I did in life.”

Reflecting on the 14-year anniversary of his father’s passing coinciding with his NFL debut, Green Bay Packers’ running back, shared his thoughts.

Wilson, who rushed for an impressive 111 yards and scored 2 touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals, was asked if he felt his father’s presence during the game. He firmly replied, “Yes sir, he’s always been with me, since the day he died. I can’t even explain it. I just know that he was always here for me.”

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Responding to a query about the timing of the game and its connection to his father’s passing, Wilson revealed, “Honestly, my cousin and my brother told me. I really didn’t look at the date until they told me that my first preseason on game was going to be on the 11 [August].” He mentioned, throughout the entire week, the realization hit him that he is playing on the day his father passed away.

Nonetheless, a moment came when the media asked for his father’s name, Wilson answered, his name was “Manuel, his [father] spelled M-A-N-U-E-L. mines E-M-A-N-U-E-L.” The Packers signed Wilson as a free agent on May 22, 2023, and his breakout performance against the Bengals has earned him recognition.

Emanuel hijacked the Bengals’ game

The 24-year-old rookie running back exhibited remarkable talent, amassing 111 yards from six carries and securing two touchdowns, including an 80-yard sprint in the fourth quarter, contributing to a 36-19 victory over the Bengals.

Before his debut, Wilson took to Twitter, sharing, “Today marks 14 years of the day my father was taken for me. Today is also my first NFL game and I’m blessed to have the opportunity to play on this day.”

Standing at 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 226 lbs, Wilson had initially been signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent on May 12, but he was released just three days later.

Notably, Wilson recorded a 40-yard dash time of 4.62 seconds and now wears Jersey number 31 for the Packers. With his remarkable performance, it’s clear that the name Emanuel Wilson will resonate with Green Bay fans throughout this preseason and beyond.

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