Seattle Seahawks: Why they had to release Bobby Wagner
By Jake Luppino
As we get closer to the start of training camp, there is a new buzz in the air surrounding the Seattle Seahawks. Primarily because this Seahawks team reporting to camp looks way different than those in years past. Leadership, experience and expectations all seem to be absent since the departures of both Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner.
To be quite honest, it should be exciting as a fan. A fresh start. No more drama or headlines that cause distractions over the course of what can become a very long season. While a Super Bowl isn’t on the horizon, an opportunity to build the foundation of a championship team starts now.
For Pete Carroll and John Schneider, this isn’t unfamiliar territory. When they came over to Seattle, they were tasked with building a contending roster for a franchise that hadn’t won a single Super Bowl at the time. Thus, making it more difficult for them to move off MLB Bobby Wagner, who helped this team win its first Lombardi Trophy.
Why the Seahawks had to release Bobby Wagner
Unlike Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner clarified his intentions about remaining a Seahawk. Throughout the 2021 regular season, especially towards the latter half when it became apparent the Seahawks would be missing the postseason for only the 2nd time in the last decade, Bobby Wagner stated his love and desire to continue playing for this franchise.
Unfortunately, Wagner wasn’t able to close out the season due to a knee injury suffered in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions. To make matters worse, he found out about his release through social media. In a recent article in the Seattle Times, Bob Condotta discusses Wagner’s current mindset heading into the 2022 season as a Los Angeles Ram:
"But at the end of the day I have a different perspective. I think my opinion on it would have been different if I ended up somewhere else…I didn’t want to leave Seattle. But, if I was going to leave Seattle, home was the next-best thing for me and so being able to be home, like I’m at peace with the situation."
As a Seahawks fan, it is still very odd seeing Wagner dripped in yellow and blue. But, hindsight will tell us the release made logical sense for two reasons.