Eleven-time All-Pro, ten-time Pro-Bowler, Super Bowl champion, NFL All-Decade team member; these are just a few of the accolades that Bobby Wagner has achieved throughout his illustrious NFL career so far. In 11 seasons in Seattle, Wagner established himself as one of the franchise’s most accomplished players and made an equally big impact in the community. “Bobby Wagner is going to be a Hall of Famer, I don’t think it’s going to take very long,” said The Athletic’s Mike Sando. “When you look at the top linebackers of his era, it’s a very short list. Bobby Wagner could do it all. He had the size, he had the athleticism, he had the instincts, and he had the smarts. What box does Bobby Wagner not check?”
Drafted in second round of the 2012 draft, Wagner immediately became a starter on one of the league’s best defenses, setting a franchise rookie record of 140 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions. His rookie season was a preview of what was to come as he would record at least 100 tackles in a season in every single year of his career to this point.
Seattle’s 2013 Super Bowl-winning defense was best remembered for the iconic secondary, the Legion of Boom, but Wagner was equally as big of part as any member of the defense. In three postseason games that season, Wagner had 34 tackles and played a major role in holding the league’s top offense, the Denver Broncos, to just eight points in Super Bowl XLVIII. The following season, Wagner made his first Pro Bowl appearance, earned his first All-Pro nomination and received a vote for the league’s Most Valuable Player award despite missing five games, while leading Seattle back to its second-consecutive Super Bowl appearance.
Following eight-straight seasons of making the Pro Bowl and being named an All-Pro, the Seahawks released Wagner following the 2022 season. He would sign with his hometown team, the L.A. Rams, where he would play one season before returning to Seattle in 2023. In his one season back with the Seahawks, Wagner tied Jordyn Brooks for the franchise record of 183 tackles in a single season and would earn his 11th All-Pro nomination.
Wagner’s contributions go beyond the game of football as he has made an impact the community throughout his 13-year NFL career. He is one of six players in franchise history to be nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award twice, as he was up for the award in 2019 and in 2023 for his philanthropic work, raising awareness for stroke prevention and awareness and his support for HBCU’s. In 2023, Wagner was nominated for the Art Rooney Award, which is voted on by players around the league and goes to the player that best demonstrates sportsmanship, respect and integrity.
