"12 years of loyalty": Russell Wilson heartbroken again as beloved dog Naomi dies one year after losing Prince

Russell Wilson is mourning the loss of his Dalmatian Naomi, a companion who grew up alongside his NFL career and his young family. On Feb. 13, Russell Wilson, now quarterback of the New York Giants, shared the news on Instagram with two quiet photos that said more than any stat line ever could. One showed him smiling beside Naomi. The other captured her curled up with Prince, the family’s other Dalmatian who passed away last year.The post was simple and heartfelt. “Our sweet Naomi,” Wilson wrote. “Thank you for over 12 years of cuddles, kisses, and loyalty. You brought so much love to our family and gave us so many happy memories.” Then he added a line that carried both faith and longing: “You’re back with your soulmate Prince now in Doggy Heaven! We Love you always ❤️.”Naomi had been with Wilson since his first year in the league. She and Prince arrived when everything else in his life felt new and uncertain. Over time, they became part of the rhythm of his home with wife Ciara and their children, Sienna Princess, Win Harrison, Amora Princess and Future Zahir.The loss comes almost exactly a year after the family said goodbye to Prince following a long fight with cancer. In a January 2025 tribute, Wilson called him “a blessing to our family with so many memories, hugs and kisses from our 4 kids and us.” He wrote, “You will forever be a part of us. Today was a hard day. But you overcame cancer 2x and lived 12 years when most live 6. Heaven got a good one! Forever the Prince of Peace. Love you.”Wilson has never treated his dogs as background details in his life. In a 2019 interview tied to the Banfield Foundation Safer Together initiative, he laughed about the chaos they brought into quiet moments. “The great Danes just want to lay on your lap all the time,” he said. “Ciara and I will be trying to have a date night, watching a movie, and all of a sudden there’s three great Danes laying across our laps.”Naomi’s passing adds to a history of goodbyes. In 2022, when Ciara introduced their puppy Bronco, she reflected on losing her longtime dog Tyson after nearly 17 years, calling it bittersweet and writing, “He will always be in our hearts.”For Wilson, the message feels clear. Trophies fade. Seasons pass. But the love waiting at home leaves a mark that stays.