Bobby Wagner Bio
Bobby Joseph Wagner (born June 27, 1990) is an American professional football linebacker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah State Aggies and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft. Regarded as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, Wagner is a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks in 2013.
Wagner is a ten-time Pro Bowler and an eleven-time All-Pro selection, and he leads all active players in career tackles. He also won the 2023 Art Rooney Award and was named the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. In addition, Wagner is a minority owner of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm.
Early Life and Background
Bobby Joseph Wagner was born on June 27, 1990, in Los Angeles, California. He attended Colony High School in Ontario, California, where he played football for the Titans. As a senior in 2007, he registered 125 tackles (92 solo and 33 assists), four sacks, and 37 catches for 595 yards with 11 touchdowns as a tight end. He received all-CIF Central Division honors and all-Mount Baldy League accolades, and he earned second-team California Division 2 all-state honors after helping lead the Titans to a CIF division title.
Considered a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Wagner’s only college offer came from Utah State. His mother, Phenia, passed away after complications from a stroke in 2009 during Wagner’s freshman year of college, a loss that would shape his personal foundation work in the years to come.
Path to American Football
Wagner attended Utah State University from 2008 to 2011, where he became a four-year starter for the Aggies. He recorded 445 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and four interceptions across his college career. As a senior in 2011, he was named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Defensive Player of the Year after recording 147 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions.
On January 14, 2012, Wagner accepted his invitation to the 2012 Senior Bowl, becoming the first Utah State player to appear in the game since Chris Cooley in 2004. He recorded 22 combined tackles and an interception and was named Senior Bowl MVP. Although he missed the NFL Scouting Combine because of pneumonia, Wagner impressed scouts at Utah State’s Pro Day on March 30, 2012, posting workout numbers that would have ranked at the top of his position group.
Bobby Wagner Career
Early Career (2012)
The Seattle Seahawks selected Wagner in the second round (47th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft, the highest Utah State player drafted since Rulon Jones in 1980. On May 7, 2012, the Seahawks signed him to a four-year, $4.30 million contract that included $2.51 million guaranteed. He won the starting middle linebacker job over Barrett Ruud and Matt McCoy, and he made his debut in the season-opener at the Arizona Cardinals.
Wagner finished his rookie season with 140 combined tackles, three interceptions, and two sacks in 16 games and 15 starts, and he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. Pro Football Focus ranked him the second-best inside linebacker in 2012 and the best rookie linebacker in the league.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2013–2021)
In 2013, Wagner helped the Seahawks finish 13–3 and reach Super Bowl XLVIII. On February 2, 2014, he started in his first Super Bowl and recorded ten combined tackles as Seattle routed the Denver Broncos 43–8 to win the championship. He was voted to his first Pro Bowl and named First-team All-Pro in 2014, even after missing five games with turf toe.
On August 2, 2015, the Seahawks signed Wagner to a four-year, $43 million contract extension that included $19.97 million guaranteed. He scored his first two career touchdowns in 2015 and helped Seattle return to Super Bowl XLIX, where he intercepted Tom Brady in a narrow 28–24 loss to the New England Patriots. On September 11, 2016, he set the single-season franchise record for combined tackles, surpassing Terry Beeson, and he led the NFL in tackles with a career-high 167, earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod and First-team All-Pro honors.
On July 26, 2019, Wagner signed a three-year, $54 million extension that made him the highest-paid middle linebacker in the league. He led the NFL in total tackles again in 2019 with 159, was voted First-team All-Pro for the fifth straight season, and earned Pro Bowl honors. He added another Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro selection in 2020 and a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro nod in 2021 before the Seahawks released him on March 9, 2022, after ten seasons with the team.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2022)
Wagner signed a five-year contract worth up to $65 million with the Los Angeles Rams on March 31, 2022. Starting all 17 games, he recorded six sacks, 140 total tackles, two interceptions, and five passes defended as the Rams fell to a 5–12 record. He was named second-team All-Pro for the second consecutive year, and the Rams released him for salary cap reasons on February 23, 2023.
Seattle Seahawks (Second Stint, 2023)
Wagner returned to Seattle on a one-year contract worth up to $7 million on March 25, 2023. He led the NFL in total tackles with 183, was named to his ninth Pro Bowl, and earned second-team All-Pro honors. He also received the Art Rooney Award in 2023, recognizing his character and community contributions.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–Present)
On March 15, 2024, Wagner signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Washington Commanders. In Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals, he surpassed Zach Thomas for fourth-most career tackles in NFL history, and he recorded at least 100 tackles for the 13th consecutive season. He was named second-team All-Pro and was the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
On March 6, 2025, Wagner signed a one-year contract extension worth $9.5 million. On January 4, 2026, during Washington’s final regular season game, he recorded five combined tackles to reach 2,000 combined tackles in his career, becoming the third player in NFL history to reach the mark after Ray Lewis and London Fletcher. He finished the 2025 season with 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and two interceptions and was named the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wagner pairs exceptional instincts with consistent tackling technique, rarely missing attempts in space and flowing smoothly to the ball on runs and short passes. He is at his best when diagnosing plays quickly against the run and when reading quarterbacks in zone coverage, and his communication with the secondary has been a hallmark of top-ranked Seattle defenses. He also flashes pass-rush value, racking up multiple sacks in several seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wagner’s signature moment came in Super Bowl XLVIII, when he helped Seattle’s Legion of Boom defense dismantle the Broncos 43–8. Other highlights include a 98-yard interception return touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in 2018, reaching 2,000 career combined tackles in January 2026, and being named the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his on-field excellence and community work.
Bobby Wagner Career Wins
Bobby Wagner’s career is built on a long string of team and individual achievements across more than a decade in the NFL. He won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks and has been voted to ten Pro Bowls and eleven All-Pro teams (six First-team and five Second-team selections).
Seattle Seahawks Highlights
Wagner captured Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks after the 2013 season and earned Steve Largent Award honors in 2017 for exemplifying the spirit, dedication, and integrity of the Seahawks organization. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2012, was voted First-team All-Pro six times between 2014 and 2020, and led the NFL in total tackles in 2016, 2017 (solo co-leader), 2019, and 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
Wagner was named the 2011 WAC Defensive Player of the Year, the 2012 Senior Bowl MVP, the 2013 NFC champion with Seattle, and the 2023 Art Rooney Award winner. He also added second-team All-Pro honors with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 and with the Washington Commanders in 2024 and 2025, plus the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Bobby Wagner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bobby Wagner grew up in Los Angeles, California, and played high school football at Colony High School in Ontario, California. He started the FAST54 Phenia Mae Fund in honor of his mother, Phenia, who passed away in 2009 from complications of a stroke, partnering with hospitals to help stroke patients and promote stroke education.
Personal Life
In January 2024, Wagner began an 18-month online course from Howard University to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. In July 2025, he became a minority owner of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, and in August 2024, he opened a Crumbl Cookies franchise location at The Landing shopping mall in Renton, Washington.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Bobby Wagner continued to anchor the Washington Commanders defense as one of the league’s most productive linebackers. He posted 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and two interceptions, and on January 4, 2026, he became the third player in NFL history to record 2,000 career combined tackles, joining Ray Lewis and London Fletcher. His production helped the Commanders defense remain among the league’s most consistent tackling units throughout the year.
Wagner was recognized off the field as well, being named the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his community contributions alongside his on-field performance. The award reflected his long-running FAST54 Phenia Mae Fund work and his growing business ventures, including his Crumbl Cookies franchise in Renton, Washington, and his minority ownership stake in the WNBA’s Seattle Storm.
With another Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro selection, Wagner continued to build his case as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history. His combination of leadership, tackling consistency, and community impact has set a standard that few defensive players of his era have matched.
