After Paying Homage to Kobe Bryant’s Daughter, Russell Wilson and Ciara Send Love to Vanessa Bryant With Special Message

When titans of different sports worlds collide, it’s more than just a casual meetup. The gridiron’s Russell Wilson and the hardwood’s Bryant family share a bond that runs deeper than Xs and Os. As Vanessa Bryant marked her late daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant’s birthday with a heartfelt tribute, Wilson and wife Ciara were there to pay respects and offer loving support.

On May 1st, remembering late Gigi on her birthday, Vanessa’s Instagram became a virtual locker room, sharing memories of her “gorgeous girl, Gigi” with poignant words – “I love you. I miss you.” While the devastating 2020 accident claimed Gigi alongside her father Kobe Bryant, their sports legacies live on through simple acts of kindness. While the wounds never fully heal, the sports world rallied around the Bryant family, with Russell Wilson leading the charge from the gridiron.

As Vanessa Bryant celebrated her birthday today, NFL star Russell Wilson and wife Ciara were courtside with a powerful rally cry – “Happy birthday sis! We love you.” Wilson’s heartfelt Instagram story featuring an old selfie of him and Ciara with Vanessa wasn’t just empty platitudes. It captured an old snapshot of Wilson with Ciara and Vanessa. Ciara doubled down on the birthday love, reposting “Celebrating you today and every day boo!”

But the Wilson family’s display ran deeper than simple reposts. Ciara shared a hilarious TikTok clip with the iconic caption “I love you so much @vanessabryant birthday queen! Never a dull moment” – an intimate window into the fun, goofy rapport between the tight-knit squads.

These gestures embody sports’ unwritten code – while rivals on the field, off the turf, athletes form an unbreakable fraternity rooted in mutual admiration. Symbolic high-fives echo far louder than any trophy case.

Russel Wilson and Co has a closeness thicker than blood with Bryants!

“Love is a funny thing. I can’t explain it and I don’t understand it. But all I know is…she caught my heart and I just knew she was the one,” Kobe once reflected on his partnership with Vanessa to MTV News.

The Wilsons have been there for the Bryants through life’s darkest and happiest hours. Russell Wilson’s love and bond didn’t stop at Gigi’s birthday. When Kobe’s other daughter Natalie Bryant headed into her junior year of college, the Wilsons shipped a bouquet with a rallying cry – “Shine bright and conquer. Go, Nani, Go!” A kind gesture reminding Kobe’s eldest that while #8 and #24 may be retired, the Bryant legacy is forever ingrained in Seattle’s showtime playbook.

Even last year, they commemorated what would have been Gigi Bryant’s birthday with thoughtful gestures, keeping her boundless spirit alive. The families exchange congratulatory messages for milestones big and small – from birthdays to the birth of Wilson’s younger daughter.

On the court, Gigi was pure “Mamba Mentality” – an unstoppable force leaving everyone from LeBron to Ionescu in awe of her preternatural talent. That Bryant DNA, that unrelenting basketball spirit, personified by the Wilsons honoring Gigi’s soaring legacy.