For the third time in his career, future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner has found a new NFL home. Breaking news came Wednesday afternoon announcing Wagner is headed east to the “other” Washington to sign a one-year deal with the Commanders. For the second time in three seasons, Wagner and the Seattle Seahawks are moving in different directions.
The Seahawks parted ways with Wagner prior to the 2022 season, where he spent one season with the Los Angeles Rams. Seattle brought Wagner “back home” during the 2023 offseason after he was released by the Rams. However, it appears the reunion tour was short lived.
From Free Agency Frenzy: The #Commanders land All-Pro and Pro Bowl LB Bobby Wagner, a huge addition to their defense. pic.twitter.com/0PzArtsgXx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
Wagner will be reunited with his former defensive coordinator, Dan Quinn, who is now the new head coach for the Commanders.
The 2023 campaign was a career-year for Wagner, who set a personal-best with 183 tackles to lead the NFL for the third time in his career. Wagner clearly proved he had more than enough gas left in the tank, and his intentions at the end of the season was that he was going to play in 2024. Now it seems he will do so in burgundy and gold.
With Wagner headed to the Commanders, and Jordyn Brooks going to the Miami Dolphins, the Seahawks have a major question they need to answer: what are they going to do at linebacker now? One of the top free agents, former Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen, opted to jump ship to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. Whether the Seahawks were interested or not, Queen will not be following his former defensive coordinator in Mike Macdonald to the Pacific Northwest.
Wagner moving on from Seattle this offseason felt inevitable, as the Seahawks are retooling and getting younger. Still, seeing one the greatest players in franchise history – and the NFL as a whole since 2012 – leave again does sting a bit.
The 12th Man will surely be thankful they got to see Wagner for one last year in a Seahawks uniform, including the beloved throwbacks. I’m also sure they’re breathing a collective sigh of relief that he isn’t going to another division rival this time around.
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