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Bobby Wagner caused me to think back this week to another Washington middle linebacker.
Apparently, many in the NFL still believe Wagner can get the job done. Two weeks ago, Wagner was included in the NFL Network's release of its top 100 NFL players entering the 2026 season. Wagner still was a rock in run defense in 2025. Enough that Wagner is still picking up votes from NFL players, with the No. 81 ranking for this upcoming season.
Looking at his numbers, Wagner was still durable, able to play in all 17 2025 games, totaling 162 tackles, with 8 of those being tackles for a loss. He then added 4.5 quarterback sacks, collected two interceptions and forced four fumbles. Being a tackling machine, Wagner has been in triple-digit tackles in a season through 14 years in the league, and he now sits third all-time -- just 59 behind Ray Lewis' record -- with exactly 2,000 career tackles.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect regarding Wagner is the fact that he is not on an NFL roster right now. Secondly, we don't know, and perhaps Wagner himself does not know, if he is going to be signed by an NFL team for the 2026 season. The fact that Wagner has not announced a retirement and it is July tells me Wagner wants a shot to get 60 more tackles and become the No. 1 tackler in NFL history.
However, Wagner can't simply assume an NFL team is going to sign him to simply play running downs. Yes, an NFL team may very well be willing to do that. If a contender would want to play Wagner on running downs, to avoid Wagner being picked on in pass coverage, then it could happen.
This should sound familiar to long-time Washington Redskins fans. That's right, the Redskins actually did this in the 1991 season. They signed linebacker Matt Millen to play one final season. They wanted his leadership and, yes, played him in running situations. The Redskins would replace Millen often with Kurt Gouveia in passing situations.
Perhaps there might be a team loaded and a contender that could use Wagner in a similar fashion to what the Redskins did with Millen in his last NFL season, that 1991 Super Bowl Championship season for the Washington Redskins.
By the way, how many of you Redskins fans recall that head coach Joe Gibbs and defensive coordinator Richie Petitbon, being up against the fast-paced no-huddle offense of the Buffalo Bills, actually determined to make the tough decision to have Millen 'inactive' for the Super Bowl?
Kurt Gouveia made a huge interception in the game, and Millen, like an unselfish professional, made the disappointing decision to be very active on the sideline, leading in street clothes as Washington led Buffalo 37-10 in the final quarter, coasting to a 37-24 win.
Two players will be revealed at 10 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. ET daily Monday through Friday from June 22-Aug. 21, before one Top 10 player is unveiled each weekday beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Sept. 4.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Will former Commanders LB Bobby Wagner land on a new team in 2026?
Continue reading...
Apparently, many in the NFL still believe Wagner can get the job done. Two weeks ago, Wagner was included in the NFL Network's release of its top 100 NFL players entering the 2026 season. Wagner still was a rock in run defense in 2025. Enough that Wagner is still picking up votes from NFL players, with the No. 81 ranking for this upcoming season.
Looking at his numbers, Wagner was still durable, able to play in all 17 2025 games, totaling 162 tackles, with 8 of those being tackles for a loss. He then added 4.5 quarterback sacks, collected two interceptions and forced four fumbles. Being a tackling machine, Wagner has been in triple-digit tackles in a season through 14 years in the league, and he now sits third all-time -- just 59 behind Ray Lewis' record -- with exactly 2,000 career tackles.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect regarding Wagner is the fact that he is not on an NFL roster right now. Secondly, we don't know, and perhaps Wagner himself does not know, if he is going to be signed by an NFL team for the 2026 season. The fact that Wagner has not announced a retirement and it is July tells me Wagner wants a shot to get 60 more tackles and become the No. 1 tackler in NFL history.
However, Wagner can't simply assume an NFL team is going to sign him to simply play running downs. Yes, an NFL team may very well be willing to do that. If a contender would want to play Wagner on running downs, to avoid Wagner being picked on in pass coverage, then it could happen.
This should sound familiar to long-time Washington Redskins fans. That's right, the Redskins actually did this in the 1991 season. They signed linebacker Matt Millen to play one final season. They wanted his leadership and, yes, played him in running situations. The Redskins would replace Millen often with Kurt Gouveia in passing situations.
Perhaps there might be a team loaded and a contender that could use Wagner in a similar fashion to what the Redskins did with Millen in his last NFL season, that 1991 Super Bowl Championship season for the Washington Redskins.
By the way, how many of you Redskins fans recall that head coach Joe Gibbs and defensive coordinator Richie Petitbon, being up against the fast-paced no-huddle offense of the Buffalo Bills, actually determined to make the tough decision to have Millen 'inactive' for the Super Bowl?
Kurt Gouveia made a huge interception in the game, and Millen, like an unselfish professional, made the disappointing decision to be very active on the sideline, leading in street clothes as Washington led Buffalo 37-10 in the final quarter, coasting to a 37-24 win.
Two players will be revealed at 10 a.m. ET and 11 a.m. ET daily Monday through Friday from June 22-Aug. 21, before one Top 10 player is unveiled each weekday beginning at 10 a.m. ET on Monday, Aug. 24 through Friday, Sept. 4.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Will former Commanders LB Bobby Wagner land on a new team in 2026?
Continue reading...
