Russell Wilson issues a stern warning to his wife Ciara

To understand everything that happened to Russell Wilson in 2012, we have to go back to that year's NFL draft. What caught everyone's attention more than Wilson's selection by the Seahawks was the effusive celebration of his then-fiancée, Ashton Meem.

Her over-the-top reaction went viral to the point that some joked she had been drafted instead of him. It was a meme for years and certainly went down in the history books, at least on social media.

The Giants quarterback discussed that moment on a podcast with Carmelo Anthony. Interestingly, he didn't mention his ex's name to avoid trouble, but we all know who he's referring to.

"I've always been a perfectionist. You always hope everything goes well. I was in a relationship before. I was young and so on. Suddenly, I was single," he confessed with a laugh.

Of course, his relationship with Ashton Meem ended badly, as they divorced in 2014. Now, with his new partner, Ciara, he has put all that behind him.

Russell Wilson had to overcome the blow of divorce, both on and off the field

Although the Giants quarterback has moved on, he itted that the constant criticism and questioning he received that year was difficult. He was in the NFL headlines daily because of what had happened.

Russell's plan was clear: to be single for a decade and live carefree. But everything changed when he met Ciara. He said he confessed his feelings to her just three days before they met.

Best of all? Wilson took the time to make a top five list of non-negotiables.

Guided by his faith and the words of his pastor, he took pen and paper. With an open heart, he wrote down his ideal partner's qualities: unshakeable convictions, unwavering commitment, pure love that transcends the ordinary, a unique character, and an inner light that shines effortlessly.

Wilson suffered a lot, but now that he has found his perfect partner, he has tremendous motivation when he steps onto the field.