Russell Wilson has announced that his dog Prince has died in a heartbreaking post on social media.

The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who crashed out the NFL playoffs at the weekend at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, shared the news with a picture of himself, his wife Ciara and Prince.

He wrote: ‘Prince 12 years ago you came into my life. I got you my rookie year & you have been a blessing to our family with so many memories, hugs and kisses from our 4 kids and us.

‘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 shared several pictures of himself and Prince from over the years and was flooded with messages of support in the comments of his Instagram post.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson has announced that his dog, Prince, has died

Wilson, who is married to Ciara, said that his dog Prince was ‘a blessing to our family’

Wilson and Ciara started dating in 2015, three years after Wilson made the step into the NFL and got Prince.

They got married in 2016 in England and have three children together. Ciara also has a son from her previous relationship with the rapper Future.

Wilson was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft and played the majority of his career on the west coast.

Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in March 2022, spending two years in Colorado before he was cut last year and joined the Steelers.

His future in Pittsburgh is uncertain, though. He only signed a one-year deal with the team and it remains to be seen if the Steelers want him back at age 36.

But Wilson wants to stay with the team.

‘That’s the plan,’ he said after the Ravens loss. ‘I love it here and everything else.

‘I think we have a great football team. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, and I think there’s a lot more to do.’