Bobby Wagner

Bobby Joseph Wagner (born June 27, 1990) is an American football inside linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Utah State and was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks, who he played for until the end of the 2021 season. Ever since being drafted, Wagner has been a model of consistency and has built an illustrious career with a lot of hardware to his name.

Bobby Wagner’s Early Life and Background

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 solos) 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 solos), 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's 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.

Who Drafted Bobby Wagner?

The Seattle Seahawks selected Wagner in the second round (47th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He is the 11th highest player selected in the NFL draft from Utah State and the highest since Rulon Jones in 1980. The Seattle Seahawks also drafted his Utah State teammate Robert Turbin in the fourth round.

Bobby Wagner’s NFL Journey

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 Jaguar's 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 solos), 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.

Bobby Wagner teams

Seattle Seahawks (2012-2021)

Wagner’s career with the Seahawks is littered with success stories. Selected to seven Pro Bowls and is a seven-time AP All-Pro (six-time First-Team All-Pro). Wagner is the 11th linebacker in NFL history to earn first-team All-Pro honors six times. The other 10 are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A five-time team captain has started 134 of 135 games played over nine seasons and has recorded 1,211 tackles (724 solos), 22.5 sacks, 10 INTs, 55 passes defended, five forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and four touchdowns. He is the only player in team history with 1,000 career tackles and is the franchise's all-time leader.

Finished 2020 posting his ninth-consecutive 100-tackle season with 138 tackles (7th NFL). His nine straight seasons with 100 tackles rank second to London Fletcher's 14-year streak since the 2000 season.

Led the NFL with 159 tackles in 2019, second-most in franchise history. Set a club record vs. New Orleans (9/22) for most tackles in a game with 19. It was the highest total since Sammy Green totaled 18 in 1978.

The set franchise record for longest interception return, returning a pick 98 yards for a touchdown against San Francisco (12/2/18).

In 2016, started all 16 games leading the NFL and setting a franchise record with a career-high 167 tackles (85 solos).

Was voted to his first Pro Bowl in 2014, in addition to being selected Associated Press First-Team All-Pro, despite missing five games due to a foot injury, tallied 104 tackles (67 solo), 2.0 sacks and three passes defended.

Started all three postseason games in 2013 and tied Kam Chancellor for the team lead in tackles with 34 (17 solos).

The set franchise record for tackles by a rookie with 140 (Terry Beason, 136 in 1977) and ranked second among all rookies in 2012.

As a rookie, started 15 of 16 games played at middle linebacker as well as both postseason games in 2012, leading the team in tackles (140) in addition to recording three interceptions, two sacks and four passes defended.

Championships and Rings Won by Bobby Wagner

Bobby Wagner has enjoyed the taste of Super Bowl success, with the Seahawks winning the grand prize in the 2013 season. 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.

Bobby Wagner’s Super Bowl Championship Rings

Bobby Wagner Awards and Honors

Bobby Wagner's Net Worth

According to Forbes, Wagner has a net worth of about $25 million, owed in large part to the enormous contract that made him #74th on the world’s highest-paid athletes list.

Bobby Wagner Contract

Bobby Wagner signed a 5 year, $50 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams on April 4, 2022. Wagner received $20 million in guarantees of which $10 million is guaranteed at signing. Wagner received a $5 million signing bonus and his 2022 base salary and 2023 roster bonus are both fully guaranteed. To know more about his contract, check out this article.

Bobby Wagner family

Phenia Wagner (mother) and Bobby Wagner Sr. are his parents (father). Robert Wagner and Nakima Ward are his two siblings. Quincey Wagner is Bobby Wagner’s daughter. Wagner hasn’t mentioned his daughter or his baby mama on social media, so we don’t know anything about them.