Chalk this one up to the what were we thinking category. A year after releasing linebacker Bobby Wagner the Seattle Seahawks re-signed the club’s best defensive player of all time and most revered by the fans and players.
QUANDRE DIGG THE JOURNALIST
The news Seahawks Nation and players were hoping for became reality Saturday night when Wagner signed a one year $7 million dollar contract at the Virginian Mason Center. Once the contract was signed Wagner leaked the news to Quandre Diggs one of his best friends on and off the field.
“I wanted Quandre to be the one to kind of let everybody know just because I kind of wanted to show him my love and appreciation for what he was doing,’’ Wagner said. “But it was crazy. I wasn’t able to see everything (all the online reaction) but what I saw was a lot of people that were happy, and a city that was happy and it just felt right and just felt like I was (back in) my football home.’’
Wagner told the Seattle Times in an exclusive interview Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday evening Wagner confirmed with Cascadiasports.net that he was returning to the Seahawks.
Bobby Wagner Instagram
SEAHAWKS LINK TO TWEET
TYLER LOCKETT
WHY THIS MAKES SENSE
The reunion between Wagner and Seahawks makes sense on multiple levels. The Seahawks were in desperate need of linebackers. Cody Barton signed with the Washington Commanders and Jordyn Brooks is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in Week 17. Brooks had surgery on Jan 19th and is on a race against time to return for the team’s 2023 opener. There is no doubt the Seahawks will draft at least one linebacker in the upcoming draft. What better way to mold a promising player or two than have a future Hall Of Famer as a mentor?
HE CAN STILL PLAY
For Wagner, this is not a retirement tour. Playing for the Los Angeles Rams last year Wagner recorded 140 total tackles same number he had his rookie year in 2012. The only time Wagner surpassed 140 tackles in a season was in 2021 ( 170) his last year with the Seahawks, in 2016 (167), and in 2019 (159). Wagner’s ability to quickly read offensive sets put his teammates in the right position and make the play is why he is headed to Canton. When the Rams released Wagner after a disastrous year for the defending Superbowl Champions speculation of a reunion between Wagner and the Seahawks ran rampant and now the wishing and hoping is reality
BIG PICTURE
Wagner is one of the most revered players in the history of the Seahawks franchise. The deep admiration and respect Wagner has earned is because of his leadership on and off the field.
The return of Wagner could have come at a better for head coach Pete Carroll and General Manager John Schneider. The interior of the Seahawk’s defense is undergoing a major overhaul.
The linebacking corps is at a bare-bones and most importantly the Seahawks are a team in transition. Carroll and Schneider have done a masterful job of drafting good young talent and mixing them with proven veteran talent that can still perform at a high level.
What better way to continue the overhaul than by bringing in one of the club’s greatest players who can still perform at a high level? Wagner’s presence will set an example for not just the young players but the veterans as well. The re-signing of the six-time All-Pro, ninth overall, and all-decade member for the 2010s was a move the Seahawks had to make and they did.
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