Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner were a tough watch for Seahawks fans in Week 10

Russell Wilson is the best quarterback in Seattle Seahawks history. Bobby Wagner is the best linebacker in Seattle history. Both players are still playing, but neither is currently part of Seattle's team.

Wilson's Pittsburgh Steelers played Wagner's Washington Commanders in Week 10, with Pittsburgh getting the 28-27 victory. Both former Seahawks played well, and Wilson outplayed Washington's wunderkind quarterback Jayden Daniels. Wagner did his usual bit of greatness and played the run extremely well.

One might rightfully wonder what Seattle might look like if both Wilson and Wagner were still with the team. To be fair, Wilson worked his way out of Seattle in 2022 after he reportedly went to team chairperson Jody Allen to try to get then-head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider fired. The quarterback was wrong to do that, and it was right to send him elsewhere.

Watching Russell Wilson versus Bobby Wagner a bit bittersweet for Seahawks fans

He washed out after two seasons with the Denver Broncos. Wilson was probably ill-used and mistreated by Denver, and he still made a lot of money with the team before they let him go. He began the 2024 season with the Steelers banged up, but he has started in the last three games and has been relatively terrific. He has thrown six touchdown passes, including three in Week 10, and just one interception.

Would Seattle be better if they had Wilson at quarterback instead of Geno Smith? That is doubtful, but Wilson has had a good three games with Pittsburgh. He will also be a free agent after this season, so might the Seahawks think of bringing him back? (OK, that was a bit of a joke.)

12s were told by the media and national pundits that Seattle was not going to try to re-sign Wagner this past offseason because he was a bad fit for the new head coach Mike Macdonald's system. Fans will just have to take that at face value, though. What we do know is that Wagner is having a fantastic season with Washington and has the fifth-highest grade among linebackers in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

The highest-graded Seattle linebacker, at least one who has spent the majority of the season with the Seahawks, is Tyrel Dodson. Dodson doesn't come in until number 35, however. Wagner is probably good enough and smart enough to fit himself into any system. His leaving hurt the Seahawks more than it hurt the player.

After the Steelers' victory, Wagner and Wilson traded jerseys and wrote messages to each other on their uniforms. Wilson wrote, in part, "Forever Legendary. Forever Brothers. (Bobby Wagner) I love you for life bro! They gave us an F Grade in 2012... But we still here doing it!!! 'Don’t get bored with consistency!'"

The Seahawks had a bye week in Week 10, of course, and watching Wilson versus Wagner was a bit bittersweet. This is especially true as both players might have helped Seattle this year.

More Seahawks news and analysis: