Bobby Wagner

He is the 11th highest player selected in the NFL draft from Utah State and the highest since Rulon Jones in 1980.

The Seahawks also drafted his Utah State teammate Robert Turbin in the fourth round.

Bobby Joseph Wagner (born June 27, 1990) is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL).

He became the first Utah State player to play in the game since Chris Cooley in 2004.

In 2007, he registered 125 tackles (92 solo, 33 assists), including four sacks as a senior.

He also played tight end, tallying 37 catches for 595 yards with 11 touchdowns.

He received all-CIF Central Division honors as well as all-Mount Baldy League accolades.

He earned second-team California Division 2 all-state honors after helping lead the Titans to a CIF division title and was named to the All-San Bernardino County team.

Considered only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, Wagner's only offer came from Utah State, which he accepted.

Wagner attended Utah State University from 2008 to 2011.

A four-year starter, he recorded 445 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and four interceptions during his career.

Regarded as one of the greatest linebackers of the 21st century, Wagner is a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seahawks in 2013.

He is also a nine-time Pro Bowler, a ten-time All-Pro selection (including six First-team selections), a three-time NFL tackles leader, and leads all active players in career tackles.

He won the Art Rooney Award in 2023.

Wagner attended Colony High School in Ontario, California, where he played high school football for the Titans.

As a senior in 2011, Wagner was the WAC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 147 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions.

He played college football at Utah State and was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Seahawks, who he played for until the end of the 2021 season.

He rejoined the Seahawks in 2023 after playing for the Los Angeles Rams for the 2022 season.

On January 14, 2012, it was announced that Wagner had accepted his invitation to play in the 2012 Senior Bowl.

On January 28, 2012, Wagner played in the Senior Bowl and recorded 22 combined tackles and an interception for the North team coached by Leslie Frazier that defeated the South team 23–13.

He was named the Senior Bowl MVP and was also named the North's Most Outstanding Player.

Wagner received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, but was unable to attend after coming down with pneumonia.

On March 30, 2012, Wagner attended Utah State's Pro Day and impressed scouts and team representatives after performing all of the combine drills.

He displayed his versatility and athleticism throughout his workout and helped solidify himself as a top linebacker.

His 40-yard dash and broad jump would've finished first among all linebackers in at the NFL combine and his vertical would've tied with California's Mychal Kendricks for first.

His broad jump was five inches better than any linebacker at the combine and would've finished third among all positions.

At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Wagner was projected to be a second round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts.

He was ranked the fourth best outside linebacker in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com.

The Seattle Seahawks selected Wagner in the second round (47th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft.

On May 7, 2012, the Seahawks signed Wagner to a four-year, $4.30 million contract that includes $2.51 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $1.57 million.

Wagner entered training camp competing for the vacant starting middle linebacker role against Barrett Ruud and Matt McCoy.

Although Ruud was initially supposed to replace David Hawthorne, an injury sidelined him during organized team activities, giving Wagner valuable time with the first team defense.

Head coach Pete Carroll named Wagner the starting middle linebacker, along with outside linebackers K. J. Wright and Leroy Hill, to start the regular season.

He made his professional regular season debut and first career start in the Seahawks season-opener at the Arizona Cardinals and recorded four combined tackles during their 20–16 loss.

In Week 5, Wagner recorded five combined tackles and made his first career sack on Cam Newton in the Seahawks' 16–12 victory.

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 during a 24–21 loss.

On December 9, 2012, he collected eight combined tackles, two pass deflections, and intercepted two passes off of John Skelton in a 58–0 routing against the Arizona Cardinals.

Wagner finished his rookie season with 140 combined tackles (87 solo), four pass deflections, three interceptions.

and two sacks in 16 games and 15 starts.