Seattle Times, 9/17/08:
Safety Brian Russell took snaps as a quarterback after practice, which was really like an emergency drill. He would be the Seahawks’ emergency quarterback behind backup Charlie Frye. Russell played quarterback until his junior season at San Diego State.

Seattle Times: 2/2/09:
TAMPA–Brian Russell today was named MVP of Super Bowl XLIII after perhaps the greatest individual season in football history. The Seahawks starting strong safety added starting quarterback to his duties in the season’s third week, when malfunctioning radio helmets electrocuted both Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Frye. As a QB, Russell passed for 2,500 regular season yards, and 450 here in the Seahawks 44-7 Super Bowl win, including two touchdown passes each to Keary Colbert and Billy McMullen. He also had 17 tackles and 3 interceptions.

“I’m just trying to do my part to help this team win,” Russell said after the game. “This is the best group of teammates I’ve ever been around.”

Russell started the scoring with a 75-yard pass to Michael Bumpus. The play started innocently enough as a simple slant route.

“Brian led me perfectly, and somehow got downfield to give me a block. That guy’s motor never quits.”

The Seahawks never looked back, allowing only a late, 85-yard touchdown run by Justin Forsett.