UPDATE: Something Unrelated to Football, Drew Bobby Wagner Addressing Commanders in Washington

The Washington Commanders were the ones Bobby Wagner was directed toward when something unrelated to football tilted the scales.

When Bobby Wagner approached his thirty-fourth birthday, he had no intention of giving up on football. His decision to sign with the Washington Commanders instead of the Seattle Seahawks was influenced by the opportunity to play for Dan Quinn and Ken Norton Jr.

But Washington also benefited from an unrelated factor that swung the balance in their favor.

Wagner enrolled in an 18-month Master of Business Administration program at Howard University in the District of Columbia in January with the goal of broadening his horizons beyond football.

Wagner stated on Friday, “It was going to be online, but I think that might have changed a little bit.”

The six-time All-Pro linebacker selected Howard due to the latter’s experience in business and his work with historically Black institutions and universities.

“Similarly with football, you always want to try to find ways to perfect your craft, so I felt like this was an opportunity for me to do that off the field,” Wagner stated. “I simply thought Howard was an excellent place to study business. Why wouldn’t I select them if they are among the best in the nation?”

Wagner signed a one-year contract worth up to $8.5 million with $6 million in guaranteed money after deciding to work for the Commanders during the day. As the star of a reconstructed defense designed by new general manager Adam Peters for Quinn—who coached Wagner as an assistant coach for two years with Seattle during their Super Bowl victory together—he replaces Quinn.

Wagner dismissed the idea of retiring on the same day that former Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald declared his retirement. Despite being past his prime, he still takes care of his body with yoga and physical therapy and is still passionate about playing the game, so he planned to trust the process.

“What keeps me motivated is just wanting to be great and wanting to do it for a long time,” Wagner stated. “Watching guys like LeBron and people that’s been able to do it at a high level for a long time, I think that’s what keeps me going.”

Wagner is an example of that himself at this point. Anthony Pittman, a little younger linebacker who recently joined the club, said he has always admired and studied Wagner’s play.

“Not to make him sound because he’s still playing at a high level, but I’m excited to just learn from him and take whatever I can from it,” Pittman stated on Thursday. “Just observe and study.”

Frankie Luvu, another linebacker the Commanders signed to bolster the position, is comparable. Wagner and Luvu appear to be beginning their partnership in Washington together, having previously worked out together.