Avery decorated player in Seattle Seahawks history is available ahead of Week 2.
Coincidentally, former Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner was named a “perfect fit” for the Dallas Cowboys by Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay on Sept. 16.
Dallas lost linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and safety Malik Hooker to injuries during its 28-20 season-opening loss to the New York Giants.
Kay identified Wagner as one of the shrewdest additions Dallas could make, citing the veteran’s instincts, experience and continued production despite reaching 36 years old.
Wagner would bring more than short-term insurance. The 11-time AP All-Pro elevated his status in Seattle, where he developed into one of the defining players of the franchise’s most successful era.
Following two seasons with the Washington Commanders, Wagner could land with an NFC rival.
Wagner Remains Productive at 36
Bleacher Report’s proposal comes after Wagner endures as one of the league’s busiest linebackers in 2025.
Wagner played all 17 games for the Commanders and recorded 162 tackles, giving him his 14th consecutive season with at least 100. Washington’s official website also credited Wagner as its best run defender, while noting that he missed only seven defensive snaps throughout the season.
Pro Football Focus gave Wagner a 78.7 overall grade, ninth among 88 qualifying linebackers. His 90.4 run-defense grade ranked fifth at the position, while his 92.4 pass-rush grade ranked second.
That production explains why Kay believes Dallas could turn to Wagner while DeMarvion Overshown is sidelined.
“Once Overshown is ready to return, Wagner can slide into a rotational backup role and contribute situationally,” Kay wrote.
Wagner, an unrestricted free agent due to his contract with Washington expiring, has surpassed 2,000 career tackles.
A move to Dallas would put him on his fourth NFL stop but only his third franchise outside Seattle.
Wagner Spearheaded All-Pro Legacy With Seahawks
Wagner entered the NFL when the Seahawks selected him No. 47 overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.
What followed was one of the most accomplished careers in franchise history.
Wagner earned six first-team AP All-Pro selections during his original 10-year Seattle run. He also helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII and became a leading factor of their defense as the Legion of Boom era transitioned into a new generation.
Seattle released Wagner following the 2021 season, and he was with the Los Angeles Rams before returning to the Seahawks in 2023.
The reunion produced another accolade.
Wagner piled up an NFL-leading and franchise-record-tying 183 tackles and earned second-team AP All-Pro honors. The Seahawks noted at the time that it was Wagner’s 10th All-Pro selection, making him one of only three linebackers in league history to reach that mark.
He left Seattle again following the 2023 campaign and joined the Washington Commanders, earning his 11th AP All-Pro nod in his first season there.
Even his most recent major individual honor carries a Seattle connection. Wagner won the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, with the NFL recognizing his sustained production and extensive community work.
The Seahawks have since moved forward with a younger defense, but Wagner’s next move is of note given the legend is on the back end of his career.
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