Bobby Wagner

BIOGRAPHY

Bobby Wagner was born on June 27th, 1990 in Los Angeles, California. Wagner is a linebacker in the National Football League.

Bobby Wagner played college football at Utah State, and was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He was dubbed the “Hardest Hitter” in college by The Sporting News, becoming the first player to ever lead the conference in tackles three consecutive seasons and is one of four to accomplish that feat at Utah State. He was one of 30 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) student-athletes selected as a candidate for the 2011 Lowe’s Award for excellence both on and off the field. Wagner attended Colony High School where he lettered as a tight end and linebacker, guiding the team in each of his final two seasons to consecutive 12-2 finishes, capturing the CIF division title. He was named to the All-CIF Central Division squad as a senior and picked up All-State California Division II second-team honors, as he recorded 125 tackles (92 solo) and four sacks, while hauling in 37 receptions for 595 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Wagner attended Utah State, where he was a three-time All-Western Athletic Conference first-team choice by the league’s coaches and media who started 46-of-48 games at Utah State. He finished his career with 446 tackles (201 solo), 4.5 sacks for minus 35 yards, 29.5 tackles for losses of 80 yards and eight quarterback pressures.

His 446 tackles tied the school career-record that was first set by Del Lyles (1988-91), becoming only the fourth player in WAC history to record more than 400 tackles, breaking the league all-time record of 443 tackles. Wagner was named an All-American Dream Team choice and WAC Defensive Player of the Year by The NFL Draft Report after his senior season. Wagner was a business entrepreneurship major at Utah State.

He was drafted by the Seahawks as the 15th pick in the second round (47th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Seattle Seahawks' season-opener at the Arizona Cardinals and recorded four combined tackles. The next week, he made a season-high 14 combined tackles in a 24–23 victory against the New England Patriots. On November 25, 2012, Wagner recorded nine combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted his first career pass off Miami Dolphins' quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Wagner remained the starting middle linebacker to start the 2013 regular season under new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. On September 22, 2013, he recorded nine combined tackles, deflected a pass, and intercepted Chad Henne as the Seahawks defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle's former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley 45–17, who became the Jaguars head coach in 2013.  On December 29, 2013, he made a season-high 12 combined tackles during a 27–9 victory against the St. Louis Rams. He finished the season with 120 combined tackles (72 solo), seven pass deflections, five sacks, and two interceptions in 14 games and 14 starts. Pro Football Focus ranked Wagner the 61st best player in the league in 2013, regardless of position.

The Seattle Seahawks finished the season atop their division with a 13–3 record. On January 19, 2014, Wagner started in the NFC Championship and recorded 15 combined tackles during a 23–17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. On February 2, 2014, Wagner started in his first career Super Bowl and made ten combined tackles as the Seahawks routed the Denver Broncos 43–8 and won Super Bowl XLVIII. In 2018, Wagner logged 84 solo tackles, 138 combined, one sack, and one interception. In 2019, Wagner signed a 3 year, $54,000,000 contract with the Seattle Seahawks, including a $15,000,000 signing bonus, $40,250,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $18,000,000.

In March of 2022, he signed a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams and in 2023, Wagner re-joined the Seattle Seahawks on a one year deal.