Latest news with #BobbyWagner
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL All Quarter Century Team: Players from the NFC West
As we are in the dead of the offseason and there is almost nothing happening in the NFL until late July, now we get lists and rankings. ESPN put together an All Quarter Century Team for the NFL, constructing a 53-man roster with the best players of the last 25 years. The roster is sprinkled with a few of Arizona Cardinals players, some who played for Arizona at the end of their careers and others who were longtime Cardinals, as well as players who spent time with all of the teams in the NFC West. Who made the list? NFL All Quarter Century Team: Players from the NFC West Arizona Cardinals OL Alan Faneca DL Calais Campbell DL J.J. Watt CB Patrick Peterson Faneca barely counts as a Cardinal as he is famous for his time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he played his final NFL season in Arizona as a starter. Campbell is an awesome addition because at no point in his career has he been considered a top-five defensive lineman. But his consistent production over nearly two decades earns him a spot. Peterson was dominant for his first eight seasons in Arizona. Watt was one of the best defenders we have seen. He spent the last two seasons of his career in Arizona and had 12.5 sacks in his last season in 2022. LA Rams DL Aaron Donald LB Bobby Wagner Donald is an obvious choice. Wagner also has been one of the best linebackers this generation, but he only played one season with the Rams. San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey FB Kyle Juszczyk WR Terrell Owens WR Randy Moss OT Trent Williams CB Richard Sherman OC Kyle Shanahan The 49ers have a ton of players on this list, although Moss only spent a season with them. Sherman's best came with Seattle. Seattle Seahawks OL Steve Hutchinson LB Bobby Wagner CB Richard Sherman All three players were generational. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe onSpotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
5 former Seahawks named to ESPN's All Quarter Century team
5 former Seahawks named to ESPN's All Quarter Century team ESPN recently unveiled their All Quarter Century team: a list of who they consider to be the best NFL players from the year 2000 to present day. Their goal was to make a single team of the best to take the field during the first quarter of the 21st century. Naturally, more than a couple Seattle Seahawks made the list. Some qualifications ESPN made was players who began their careers in the 1990's were still eligible, but production from the year 2000 onward was the only criteria that would be counted. ESPN also allowed a "practice squad" player who missed the cut by their criteria. Those who did make the cut who played for the Seattle Seahawks are as follows: Steve Hutchinson (Seahawks 2001-2005) - second out of two left guards Bobby Wagner (Seahawks 2012-21, 2023) - second out of five linebackers Richard Sherman (Seahawks 2011-2017) - fourth out of five cornerbacks Earl Thomas III (Seahawks 2010-2018) - fourth out of four safeties Devin Hester (Seahawks 2016) - one out of one return specialists Naturally, seeing Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas III make the list is unsurprising. They were the faces of the Legion of Boom, one of the greatest defenses of all time. A case could certainly be made Kam Chancellor should have been on it as well, considering he brought the boom to the LOB, but the rest of the safeties list was already crowded with Brian Dawkins, Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, with Charles Woodson on the practice squad. However, I will outright say Walter Jones and Marshawn Lynch being left off are two inexcusable snubs. Walter Jones was a first ballot Hall of Famer and one of the best left tackles of all time. In 5,500 passing downs, Jones only surrendered 23 sacks and was penalized for holding nine times. His 4x All-Pro count matches Trent Williams, who did make the cut. Jones was mentioned as a practice squad player, but the roles should have been reversed. As for Marshawn Lynch, his 10,413 rushing yards and 94 all-purpose touchdowns are more than Priest Holmes, as well as having the same number of Super Bowl rings. Lynch is also a member of the Hall of Fame's All-Decade team of the 2010's, something neither Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry can say at the moment... nor do either men have championship rings. Finally... it is objectively amusing to see Devin Hester counted among the Seahawks after spending literally only two games with them during the 2016 postseason. But he is officially listed among Seattle's Hall of Famers so he does technically count!
Newsweek
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Washington Commanders Have Positive Update After Veteran Misses Camp
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. While the absence of Terry McLaurin has been the biggest storyline surrounding the Washington Commanders on day one of their mandatory minicamp, the team announced that they were without their standout linebacker in Bobby Wagner. Since Wagner's absence doesn't carry the same drama as McLaurin's holdout, it went under the radar. Fortunately, Wagner isn't expected to be away from the team for long. According to ESPN's John Keim, Wagner's absence was excused by the organization. Since it's not due to a contract dispute or a physical setback, Wagner is expected to be back with the team for day two on Wednesday. LB Bobby Wagner not in attendance. It's an excused absence. Will return tomorrow. — John Keim (@john_keim) June 10, 2025 The 34-year-old veteran was a solid defensive presence for the Commanders on the field last season. As Washington entered the 2024 NFL season full of unknowns, they invested a short-term contract in Wagner, who was changing teams for the second time in his career. After signing an $8.5 million deal with the Commanders, he was set to be the team's starting linebacker. Even in year 13, Wagner was fortunate to have good health throughout a productive season. He ended up appearing in 17 games for the Commanders. The veteran linebacker collected 132 tackles, with 10 that went for a loss. He also picked up two sacks and had multiple pass deflections in coverage. When the Commanders reached the playoffs, Wagner was in his element, making his 17th to 19th starts in the postseason. Bobby Wagner #54 of the Washington Commanders reacts after a missed field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Northwest Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. Bobby Wagner #54 of the Washington Commanders reacts after a missed field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Northwest Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Image During the Commanders' shocking postseason run to the NFC Championship, Wagner produced over 20 tackles for the first time since his playoff run with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. He finished the playoff run with 25 tackles and nearly one sack. Although Wagner hit the free agency market back in March, he wasn't set to leave the organization. After having a successful run in 2024, Wagner re-signed with the Commanders on a one-year deal, which is worth a reported $9.5 million. The Commanders anticipate being one of the most notable contenders in the NFC for the second season in a row. While this offseason has come with some drama, considering the absences of Marshon Lattimore and Terry McLaurin last week, Washington was under the impression they could have some holdout situations over the next couple of days. The defense hasn't been affected this week, as Lattimore showed up ready for camp. The same can't be said for the offensive side of the ball. McLaurin did not report to Commanders' camp on Tuesday, and the expectation is that he won't, as he desires a new deal.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jayden Daniels 'Holding Commanders To A Standard' With Super Bowl Goals
Jayden Daniels 'Holding Commanders To A Standard' With Super Bowl Goals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It is a new year for Washington Commanders' quarterback Jayden Daniels, and what happened last season is well and truly in the rearview mirror. Advertisement Yes, the 12-5 record and NFC Championship appearance were nice, but that means little right now and won't help the franchise in 2025. With Dan Quinn, Daniels, and a group of veterans, including Bobby Wagner, Marcus Mariota, and Zach Ertz, helping establish and maintain the culture that will be the driving force behind Washington's success, naturally, expectations are high entering 2025. But for Daniels, he is well aware that he and the franchise are starting from scratch as offseason workouts begin. 'I think it's a standard set,' Daniels said. 'You got the core guys that set the standard, and we got those guys back. So we're bringing in new people and we're holding them to that standard, but we know everything is not going to be given to us, we got to go out there and earn it each and every day.' Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels© Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Jayden being self-aware is nothing new, and yes, last season was superb by any metric you want to use. Now, everyone is on a level playing field until the season kicks off. Advertisement After so much heavy lifting was done last season to get the Commanders out of the NFL doldrums and into relevancy, the franchise won't want all of that work to go to waste by cutting corners and not being as focused. However, it is clear that Daniels and his teammates recognize that the standards they set last season equated to Super Bowl-level success, and if they want the same results, the standards must be maintained. And Jayden is making sure it is. Related: Commanders Needs At Receiver Are Overrated in 2025 Related: Commanders Tackle Group Predicted As Largest Position Battle This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Two former Seahawks stars challenged each other. They show how relationships really grow
Editor's Note: This story is a part of Peak, The Athletic's new desk covering leadership, personal development and success through the lens of sports. Peak aims to connect readers to ideas they can implement in their own personal and professional lives. Follow Peak here. I have known Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright for a dozen years now, which is hard to believe. Advertisement For much of that time, Wagner and Wright were linebackers for the Seattle Seahawks during the franchise's golden years, while I was a young reporter for The Seattle Times and The Athletic. Wright was inquisitive, always interested in other people's lives. Wagner delivered blunt honesty with a smile and a positive aura. But what stood out to me were the ways they balanced each other, so I wanted to talk to them together for a couple of reasons. First, they are entertaining as a pair, equal parts complimenting each other and bickering in the way lots of friendships will recognize. Second, I wanted to hear how they navigated the intersection of their personal and professional relationships — how they held each other accountable in the workplace while remaining close away from it. Today, Wright is an assistant for the San Francisco 49ers in the early days of his coaching career. Wagner is about to enter his 14th season and is the leader of the Washington Commanders. This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity. You guys were together for so long, I want to know what you learned from each other. K.J., I'll let you start. Wright: The power of building a relationship with somebody. You talk about leading and guiding people, but Bobby is good at connecting with people. I don't think there was a person in the locker room that he didn't vibe with. Spending time with people, hanging out, shooting the s—. He was good at that. And something that I want to get better at: being honest. I like to sugarcoat a lot. I like to take people's feelings into account. But Bobby was like: 'Hey, shoot it to me straight.' It's crazy because (49ers assistant head coach) Gus Bradley came to my office today, and I said I want to get better at that. What I try to do is protect people's feelings, but you realize the ultimate goal is for people to get better. So if you lie to them and bulls— them, that's just as damaging. I think Bobby was good at telling the truth and having emotional intelligence with it. Advertisement Tell me where that comes from, Bobby. Wagner: I'm observant. I'm constantly learning — not just about things but about people. I read somewhere that 90 percent of communication is body language, so I try to pay attention to that. I feel like a lot of people don't bulls— but they mask their feelings, especially in this sport. If you're able to pick up on body language that tells you otherwise, that tells you when they're like, 'Oh, yeah, I'm all good,' but their body language isn't saying that, you kind of know how to open them up. But I would say I learned this from K.J.: How to care about people. Because when people know that you care, it puts them in a space to open up. I don't think that's something he gives himself enough credit for. He always created a space where people felt vulnerable to come to him about anything. Like he was saying, sometimes I might give a hard truth that might not make people feel as comfortable talking to me. We were kind of like the perfect balance. They might come to K.J. after I told them the hard truth, and he was able to break it down in a different way than I expressed it. I think that's why we worked so well together. We knew each other's strengths. I don't know if I've ever told K.J. this. K.J. did something small for me back when I covered you guys, that meant a lot to me, so what better way to share it than when thousands of people are going to read it. I came to the locker room one day and, man, I was in a bad headspace. I was depressed and just having a tough time. K.J. came up to me … Wright: I think I remember this. K.J. came up to me and was like: 'You doing OK?' And I lied to him and said, 'Yeah, of course,' but it meant a lot to me that he noticed that because a lot of players wouldn't. It's a little superpower of yours. Wright: Save your tears, man. Save your damn tears. But, no, you just look at life in general. So many times we put on a mask and try to cover up stuff, but it's written all over our face. Body language. The way you walk, the way you talk. I think we both were good at that, too. Advertisement When I was going through my s— in my eighth year, I felt like I didn't have enough people who understood what I was going through. But Bobby would come check on me: 'Hey, man, how are you feeling? How are you doing? How's your headspace?' First off, I lied, but then I was able to say: 'Man, this sucks. I'm hurt during my contract year. Life ain't good.' When you have a relationship with somebody, just to be able to be there for them and give them space to just get the words out of their system and talk it out, that s— is powerful in my opinion. I thought he was always good at that with everybody in the locker room. Bobby, how do you give hard feedback or how do you hold people accountable? Wagner: Uhhh, you just say it. As simple as that? Wagner: I think what you value most is an honest friend. I forget what rapper said that, but like K.J. was saying, we live in a space where, especially when you're coming up, people always tell you what you're good at. They're afraid to give you their real, honest opinion. So when you find somebody who will tell you when you're not on your game, it allows you to fix a problem. A lot of times, people don't know that something is off or that they could be doing something better because people are always patting them on the back. I think that comes through relationships. That comes through knowing a person. You sit down and have a conversation and you go over somebody's goals and they say what they want to do, so when you catch them in a space where they're not doing what they said they wanted to do, or they're not working as hard as they need to to get to that goal, you can check them on it because they know it's coming from a good place. It's coming from a caring place. 'I want you to meet that goal. This is me just pushing you.' And the other thing is, I always leave space to check myself, too. I've never been in a space where someone can't tell me when I'm off my game or I'm not doing what I need to do. Wright: I'm going to push back on you, Bobby. When you do get checked, you will check back, but then you eventually will be like: 'OK, I got you, I hear you.' Wagner: Well, if it's K.J., it's different … Wright: (Laughs) Advertisement Wagner: … because K.J., like he said, will come and check me, but he'll say eight words just to get to the one word. Wright: I know. Wagner: I'm like, 'Bro, just tell me what you are talking about. Like, what are you saying that I need to improve?' He'll leave like Blue's Clues. Wright: That's fair, that's fair. Wagner: I'm like, 'Damn, K.J., you could have just told me this 30 minutes ago!' I think this story might be from your eighth season, K.J. You were hurt and you didn't watch the end of team practices. Instead, you were inside rehabbing your knee. But as a linebacker group, you guys had a rule that injured players always watch the team portion of practice. Bobby came up to you and said: 'What's up, bro? You can't come out and help the guys?' And you said: 'I'm taking care of myself.' And Bobby said, 'Oh, you're taking care of yourself? If that's the case, you might as well not come out here.' And then you guys got upset at each other. Wright: (Laughs) But the point of the story was that Bobby later said, 'You have to have people around you who are willing to challenge you, and I felt like that was my moment. I felt like I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't say anything.' I wanted to hear what you guys think about that. Wagner: At the end of the day, in my opinion, that's how relationships grow. The relationship ain't a relationship in my opinion until there's a challenge. Wright: Mhm. Wagner: Because everybody can be good when things are going well. But what are you when things aren't looking good? What are you when somebody tells you something about yourself? Like K.J. said, he might come say something to me, and I might have a reaction to it in the moment. But then we'll come back and have a conversation, and I'll say, 'I just want to let you know that you were right.' You know it's coming from a place of love. Advertisement Wright: Prime example, prime example. So 2017 … This was the other story I was going to bring up. Wright: (Laughs). Bobby had an injured hamstring. I had a concussion that game so I didn't play. I was sitting there looking at this dude, and he's limping and hitching on the field before the game. He asked me how he looked. I said, 'Uh uh. No, dog, you ain't right.' He walks away from me. Alright, whatever. Fast forward, the game happens and Todd Gurley runs a little route, and Bobby is still limping and hitching. Gurley scores a touchdown. I walked up to Bobby, and I don't know what I said, but I believe Bobby interpreted it as, 'You're costing the team. You're costing us right now.' Maybe I came off that way. He comes out of the game, and I go into the locker room during the game and follow him. He said something along the lines of: 'Bro, get out of my face.' I didn't talk to him the Monday after the game, but I think Bobby called me that Tuesday and said: 'Bro, I appreciate that. Thank you for being honest.' Wagner: I think K.J. is mixing up moments, but I'll let you continue. Wright: No, no, no I'm not. (Laughs). Noooo, nuh uh. They go back and forth about the details of this for a bit. Then we get back on track. Wagner: Like I said, more times than not, when I'm wrong, I'll admit that I was wrong. I have no problem apologizing. Wright: I'll give you that. K.J., a lot of people have a hard time giving feedback that might initially upset someone, even if they know in the long run they'll be glad for it. Why do you have a hard time doing that? Wright: My mom used to get on me and press me, she'd be like: 'Son, everybody is not going to like you. You try so hard to be liked by everybody.' And I struggled with that. I was like: 'What do you mean not everybody is going to like me? I don't treat nobody bad, I'm a good person.' I've always struggled with just wanting to be liked. Not wanting to ruffle any feathers. Advertisement I remember that conversation vividly as a kid, and I remember going back and forth with her like, 'Mama, everybody needs to like me.' I guess that's my kryptonite. Or it's a gift and a curse. It can be a very positive thing, too. Wright: Right. When you're talking about leadership and having your room one day (as a coach), I can't bulls— my players. I just need to be honest with them and leave it at that and just let them take it as they want to take it. Bobby, you told me once that your mom told you, 'Make somebody smile today. Smile at somebody today.' I wanted to see if that's something you've kept with you. Wagner: That's just kind of who I am. I feel like life can be hard. We don't know what people are going through. So if they can run into somebody who can make them smile, you never know what that smile could do for somebody's day. I think that's just naturally who I am and what she did herself. Wright: I will say, I think it's a combination of natural and thoughtful. I think you're very thoughtful and intentful when it comes to making people's days. Wagner: I just remember in school there was always that kid that everybody ignored or didn't talk to, and I never understood why. So I'd just go and say what's up to them. You just never know what people are going through or what they're thinking about. Somebody like that, walking through their life feeling unseen, you just saying what's up and making them feel seen can maybe change their life. You never know. (Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Ralph Freso / Getty Images)
