The Seattle Seahawks have a couple of former players who were key to their success in the 2010s floating around free agency currently. One is quarterback Russell Wilson, who hasn't been good for a while. The other is a player closer to the hearts of 12s: Linebacker Bobby Wagner.
The issue is that the future Pro Football Hall of Famer has been suggested as a potential fit with NFC West rival, the San Francisco 49ers. This is what FOX Sports' Ben Arthur proposed for San Fran to give themselves some proven talent at off-ball linebacker to go along with Fred Warner and the often-injured Dre Greenlaw.
"At 35 years old, Wagner is well past his prime," writes Arthur. "But he remains a very cerebral and effective player in the run game, coming off his 10th straight season with at least 130 tackles. It’s why he makes sense as a top backup option for the 49ers, who have injury concerns at both inside linebacker positions — former All-Pro Fred Warner is coming off a season-ending ankle injury, and Dre Greenlaw has played in just 10 games over the past two seasons combined."
Seattle Seahawks icon Bobby Wagner is linked to joining the San Francisco 49ers
Arthur also points out a key connection. KJ Wright, longtime inside linebacker partner for Wagner with the Seahawks, is currently the 49ers' linebacker coach. The pairing would be a wise one for San Fran to make.
But a brutal one for longtime Seahawks fans. 12s got used to watching an elite defense for most of the 2010s, and that was buoyed by an inside linebacker duo in Wagner and Wright that ranks among the best in the history of the NFL. Seeing them work together for the 49ers would be well short of what people would call "fun."
Of course, Wagner, after Seattle chose to release him due to his exceedingly high cap hit in the 2022 season, has played for another division rival before. He joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 and played one year there before returning to the Seahawks for a season.
In the last two years, Wagner has played for the Washington Commanders and former Seattle defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. As Arthur points out, Wagner isn't the player he was even five seasons ago, but he is still an elite tackler and the same against the run, and he would help the 49ers win games.
A couple of those games would be against the Seattle Seahawks. 12s have already watched as Wagner has returned to Lumen Field in the uniform of the Rams. Seeing him do so in a 49ers uniform would simply be too much.
Of course, Bobby Wagner might still be weighing whether he wants to play another season. He might also have a limited number of suitors due to his age. Maybe he even comes back to the Seahawks, but not as a player. He could return as a member of the coaching staff or front office.
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