Brady Russell Bio
Brady Russell (born August 31, 1998) is an American professional football fullback for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes before being signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 250 pounds, Russell has carved out a role as a versatile blocker and special teams contributor. After brief stints on the Eagles’ practice squad, he joined the Seahawks in 2023 and later transitioned to fullback under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Early Life and Background
Brady Russell was born on August 31, 1998, at Camp Pendleton in California. He grew up in a deeply athletic family. His father, Randy, and his uncle, Marc Booth, both played football for the Arkansas Razorbacks, while another uncle, Matt, played for the Colorado Buffaloes and works as an executive with the Philadelphia Eagles. Two of his brothers also pursued college athletics: Cody played football for the Northern Colorado Bears, and Tyler ran track at the United States Naval Academy.
Russell attended Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he first competed as a track athlete before switching to football. He played defensive end as well as some tight end, earning team most valuable player honors as both a junior and a senior. He was twice named first-team All-Front Range League on defense and added one second-team selection on offense.
A two-star high school recruit, Russell turned down a scholarship offer from Football Championship Subdivision Northern Colorado in order to walk on at Football Bowl Subdivision Colorado. The decision reflected his belief that he could develop at the highest level of college football.
Path to American Football
Russell arrived at the University of Colorado in 2017 and quickly transitioned from outside linebacker to tight end while contributing on the scout team. He was named Colorado’s 2017 Offensive Scout Player of the Year, a strong first step in his development. The following summer, he impressed during training camp and earned a scholarship before the 2018 regular season, a rare feat for a walk-on.
As a sophomore in 2018, Russell was placed second on the depth chart and finished the year with five receptions for 41 yards. In 2019, his role grew significantly, and he posted 23 catches for 221 yards with two touchdowns, exceeding the total catches by Colorado tight ends over the prior three seasons combined.
Russell was named team captain in 2020, but a season-ending injury in just the second game limited his contributions. Healthy again in 2021, he recorded a team-leading 25 receptions for 307 yards and was a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the best player who began his career as a walk-on. He returned for a final college season in 2022, adding 20 catches for 153 yards, and closed his Colorado career with 78 receptions for 799 yards and three touchdowns.
Brady Russell Career
Early Career (2023)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Brady Russell signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and quickly re-signed to the team’s practice squad, where he continued to develop his professional skills and waited for an opportunity.
On September 20, 2023, the Seattle Seahawks signed Russell off the Eagles’ practice squad to their 53-man roster. He appeared in 15 games during his first Seattle season, registering 7 tackles while playing about 2 percent of the team’s offensive snaps as he adjusted to the speed of the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Russell’s second season with the Seahawks in 2024 was primarily spent on special teams, where he appeared in 11 games. He continued to build a reputation as a reliable depth piece and contributor in the kicking game. On January 2, 2025, however, a foot injury sent him to injured reserve, ending his season early.
Despite the injury setback, Russell remained in the Seahawks’ plans. On April 9, 2025, he signed his exclusive rights free agent contract with Seattle, ensuring his return to the franchise. The new deal marked a fresh start and set the stage for a position change that would define his next chapter.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2025–Present)
During the 2025 off-season, the Seahawks brought in Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator, and Kubiak made clear that he intended to use a traditional fullback more frequently than his predecessor, Ryan Grubb, who had not employed an official fullback in Seattle. Russell was asked to make the switch from tight end to fullback to fit Kubiak’s scheme.
Russell made the Seahawks’ 53-man roster in 2025 as the backup fullback behind Robbie Ouzts. The position change gave him a clearer path to a consistent offensive role and aligned his skill set with the team’s new direction under Kubiak.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Brady Russell’s career came in 2019, when his 23 receptions at Colorado exceeded the combined total of Buffaloes tight ends over the previous three seasons. He later earned a Burlsworth Trophy nomination in 2021 as the best college player who began as a walk-on, and he made his 53-man NFL roster debut with the Seattle Seahawks in September 2023.
Brady Russell Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Brady Russell comes from a multi-generational athletic family with deep ties to college football. His father, Randy, and uncle, Marc Booth, both played for the Arkansas Razorbacks, and his uncle, Matt, played for the Colorado Buffaloes before becoming an executive with the Philadelphia Eagles. His brother Cody played football at the University of Northern Colorado, while another brother, Tyler, competed in track at the United States Naval Academy.
Personal Life
Russell grew up in a household shaped by sports, with several family members having competed at the collegiate level. His decision to walk on at Colorado, where his uncle Matt had played, reflected the family’s longstanding connection to the program.
2025 Season Performance
Brady Russell’s 2025 campaign began with a position change, as he moved from tight end to fullback under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The switch was designed to add a traditional lead blocker to the Seahawks’ scheme, and Russell earned the backup role behind Robbie Ouzts on the 53-man roster.
After signing his exclusive rights free agent tender in April 2025, Russell entered training camp with a clearly defined role. His familiarity with Seattle’s system, combined with his size and blocking ability, made him a natural fit for the fullback position in Kubiak’s offense.
Coming off a 2024 season cut short by a foot injury, Russell will look to stay healthy and carve out a consistent role on offense and special teams. With the Seahawks investing in a more physical, run-oriented identity, his trajectory in 2025 could mark the most significant offensive workload of his young NFL career.