Russell Wilson is opening up about the moment he became convinced Ciara was the woman he would marry—and according to the retired quarterback, it started with a prayer, a list, and a deadline that lasted exactly three days.

Appearing alongside the pop star on Baby, This Is Keke Palmer , Wilson shared the story behind one of the most talked-about celebrity relationships of the past decade. During the conversation, he revealed that before meeting Ciara, he had gone through a divorce and mapped out a very different future for himself.

“I had a whole plan,” Wilson told Palmer. “I'm going to the Super Bowl. I'm going to be single for about 10 years.”

That plan changed quickly.

Wilson explained that after a conversation with his pastor, he sat down and wrote what he called his “five non-negotiables” for a future partner. The list included faith, loyalty, independence, compassion, and a presence that could command a room.

“I wrote down, prayed over—we prayed over that night,” he recalled.…