“He Heals the Brokenhearted”: Russell Wilson Pays Emotional Tribute to Kobe Bryant and Gigi on Their 5th Death Anniversary

Samnur Reza | 26/01/2025
Russell Wilson, Kobe Bryant, and Gigi

On January 26, 2020, five years ago today, basketball legend and Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant tragically lost his life in a fatal helicopter crash, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. The crash also claimed the lives of seven others on board. Today, the sports world remains in mourning, with people from all walks of life continuing to feel the profound impact of Kobe’s presence. Russell Wilson has also penned a note on social media to honor the lives lost in that tragedy.

Sharing a wholesome photo of Kobe and his daughter Gigi smiling together, with Kobe holding her in his arms, Wilson posted their names alongside a heart and prayer hands emoji on X (formerly Twitter). The Steelers quarterback then added Psalm 147:3 from the Bible in the caption, which speaks about God’s ability to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Wilson’s tribute certainly strikes a chord, as it shows the continued support for the Bryant family in the aftermath of this unimaginable loss.

Russ and his wife, Ciara, are close friends of the Bryant family. Just last year, the star quarterback received a pair of fire-red Kobe 9 Elite Protro Christmas sneakers from Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, before the Steelers took on the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 15. Ciara later shared a snap of those kicks on her IG story.

It turns out that these sneakers were the second pair Wilson received from Vanessa that month. After he and the Steelers defeated the Bengals in Week 13, he had also received the Nike Kobe 6 “Grinch” Cleats. Fitting for a man who had stolen Christmas from Cincinnati fans.

A few months prior, on Father’s Day, Russell received another heartfelt gift to celebrate his role as a girl dad. For context, the QB has two daughters with Ciara — Sienna Princess Wilson and Amora Princess Wilson. Inside the box, Russell found a pair of Nike ‘Nice Kicks,’ a basketball, a ‘girl dad’ title, and a tribute to Kobe’s best memory.

Wilson wasn’t alone in this, however. Ahead of Father’s Day weekend, several Nike Kobe 4 Protro ‘Girl Dad’ sneakers were gifted to some lucky girl dads. The gift bag included beanies, hoodies, basketballs, and other goodies.

Many of those girl dads shared videos online unboxing the gift, smiles on their faces, and heartfelt captions expressing their gratitude toward the Bryant family and Nike for making the day even more special.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nice Kicks (@nicekicks)

While Kobe is no longer with us, Vanessa has continued the tradition of giving back, which is as heartfelt as it gets. And, Wilson’s message on social media serves as a touching reminder that while the legend is gone and the sports world continues to mourn, his impact endures. With time, we can only hope that the wounds of this loss are gradually healed.

Post Edited By: Samnur Reza
Gianna Bryant Kobe Bryant Russell Wilson

About the author

Avatar photo

Samnur Reza

Samnur Reza is an NFL editor for The SportsRush. He holds a degree in English Honors and joined The SportsRush editorial team in 2023. Having previously worked as a freelancer and several media outlets, Samnur has been religiously following the National Football League for the past six and a half years. Samnur first started following football after Tom Brady's cameo in Ted 2. It wasn’t long before he found himself grabbing a bucket of popcorn to enjoy football games. Samnur now diligently follows most NFL athletes, their family members, and the NCAA. He considers himself a diverse writer, having covered almost every corner of the football world. He does, however, have a special interest in athlete-centric stories. Whenever they engage in off-field ventures or charitable activities, Samnur enjoys reading and writing about them. Samnur had already authored over 1500 NFL-based articles before becoming an editor. His editorial journey began just a little over two years ago. Beyond football, Samnur is a true cinephile with an extensive repertoire of films. He’s also fond of cats and has a furry friend named ‘Eva.’ During his free time, Samnur enjoys playing video games, currently immersed in Elden Ring (New Game +6).

Don’t miss these