Russell Wilson’s Thanksgiving guest list has taken on a life of its own, and now his mother, Tammy Wilson, has entered the conversation directly.
After former Seahawks backup Trevone Boykin publicly criticized a holiday gathering at Wilson’s home as “weird,” Tammy responded in the comments of a viral Shade Room post with a pointed message defending her son and the family’s choices.
“I am his mom. It is none of your business,” Tammy wrote. “This is opportunistic. I am so tired of you men cutting down my son.”
She explained that the absence of some family members had practical reasons, noting, “Part of our family was in Florida at a tournament. I made plans to stay home because I wanted to fast the four days before year’s end.”
Tammy also addressed Boykin directly, writing that Russell “thought enough of you, who has a criminal history, to love you enough to invite you over.” Her message ended with a clear boundary: “Russ… will forgive, but not again.”
She closed out the commentary with a follow-up comment: “And we got our own money.”
Boykin first recounted the Thanksgiving visit during a podcast appearance, describing a small gathering that included Russell Wilson, Ciara, their children, Baby Future, a chef, and dogs.
Drawing on his own upbringing, Boykin said, “I come from a traditional, country-a** Black family. If I got as much money as Russell Wilson, my whole family would talk bad about me if I ain’t fly everybody out for Thanksgiving.” He also questioned why Wilson’s mother and sisters were not present, adding, “It’s still weird to me.”
The criticism reopened discussion around Boykin’s own history, which has repeatedly interrupted his football career. Undrafted out of TCU in 2016, Boykin spent less than two seasons in the NFL. In December 2015, he was arrested following a bar fight in San Antonio and charged with assault on a public servant, public intoxication, and resisting arrest, later receiving probation.
In 2017, Boykin was again arrested in Dallas on misdemeanor marijuana possession and public intoxication charges following a car crash that injured pedestrians.
His most serious legal issues emerged in 2018, when he was charged in connection with an assault that involved breaking his girlfriend’s jaw. In 2020, Boykin pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and witness tampering in connection to the case, and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Tammy Wilson’s response also reinforced the broader context of Russell Wilson’s family background.
Raised by parents who emphasized faith, education, and service, Wilson has frequently spoken about the influence of his late father, Harrison Wilson III, a Dartmouth graduate, former collegiate athlete, and later a lawyer in Virginia, according to People.
His mother, Tammy, is a longtime registered nurse who has worked in patient outreach and hospital care management, including efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wilson has also publicly explored his family history, appearing with Henry Louis Gates Jr. on Finding Your Roots, where he learned that his ancestry traces across Africa and includes ancestors who fought for freedom and voting rights in the 19th century.
“To know where you’re going, you have to know where you came from,” Wilson said during the program.
