Veteran Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner, who won a Super Bowl with the 2013 Seahawks, tackles some postseason Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby ahead of Sunday’s wild-card clash with the Buccaneers
Q: Does he remind you of anyone you’ve played against?
A: He’s one of one, to be honest.
Q: What makes Jayden Daniels unique or special?
A: I think his combination between humility and confidence. I think he’s humble enough to know that he doesn’t know everything, but confident enough to know that he can make any play that he wants. You appreciate that. He works really hard, he studies really hard, he’s a great guy in the building, a guy that you want to follow. And I just think he goes out there and makes a lot of plays. And even when he had that crazy play, the Hail Mary [Week 8 against Bears], and the city’s going crazy, national attention, all that stuff, he was in here normal time that he normally is, and you couldn’t even tell that he made that play. He was locked in and moving on and focused on the next thing.
Q: What do you like best about this Commanders team?
A: The people. They make it really fun to come into work. I think that’s what has allowed us to connect so quickly and kind of had the success we had because we generally enjoy being around each other, and I always feel like that’s a sign of a good team.
Q: Have you imparted your wisdom about playoff football to some of the younger guys?
A: For sure. I don’t think anything changes. I think the only thing that changes is you see more media. Outside of that, we’ve played in prime-time games, we’ve played in games where a lot of people watch, so there’s really nothing different, it’s just there is no next week if you don’t win.
Q: Talk about what Baker Mayfield has done for Tampa Bay.
A: Man, he’s done amazing, man. Watching him on film has been so impressive, because obviously you know his story — he bounced around a little bit but then he found his way here — and he makes plays. You could see the last game that they played [Week 18 against the Saints], they were down and he just starts willing them to win — whether using his legs or making a crazy throw, giving his receiver an opportunity, or he’s third-and-3 and he takes off and he dives for the first down. Like, stuff like that ignites the team. It’s been fun to watch. We played together in L.A. for a short period of time [in 2022], and he was a fun guy to get to know.
Q: What have you noticed about rookie running back Bucky Irving?
A: Downhill, hits it really quick, really good in space. He’s somebody you got to watch out for too.
Q: Describe Saquon Barkley.
A: Man, he’s a special player. I think this year’s even proved it, that I don’t know how you don’t bring a guy like that back on your team. But I’m glad that he’s at a place that he’s appreciated, his talent’s appreciated, and you see no matter how good you are, when you have support and people that believe in you, you can take your talent to another level.
Q: What has enabled him to be a 2,000-yard back?
A: I think he’s always been capable of it. … You can’t just pinpoint him, because you’re leaving the other guys open so I think it’s allowed him to show his true abilities.
Q: Derrick Henry at age 30.
A: I don’t think age matters to some players, some players they defy age, I think he’s one of those guys. He’s always been a great player, but again he’s another guy that went to a team that probably appreciated him and doesn’t look at him as like getting older guy. He’s still doing all the things that he was doing before, it’s just he’s with a team that appreciates him.
Q: Malik Nabers.
A: He was fun to watch, man. He’s very confident. If you can get him the ball, he can do something special with it. He’s gonna be a fun one to watch over the next couple of years.
Q: Aaron Rodgers.
A: He’s always been one of the greats. The injury I think played a part in a lot of some of the things that happened over the past couple of years, but he’s still a great player, a guy that anybody can learn a lot of things from.
Q: What drives you?
A: Wanting to be great. I think when I first got to the league [in 2012], you didn’t know how good you were going to be or anything like that, you just wanted to make it to the league. And so once you got to the league and I was around Sherm [Richard Sherman] and those guys, they got Pro Bowls, and I was like, “Oh man, OK, I’m going to try to get one of those.” Then it’s like you see the All-Pros, it’s like, OK, you want to get one of those. Then you start looking at other teams and see how long they were able to sustain greatness. I grew up watching guys like Kobe [Bryant], and LeBron [James], and all of them and seeing how well they were doing, and you just wanted to put your name up against those guys as far as like longevity and just quality of play.
Q: How much did it put a chip on your shoulder being overlooked the way you were out of high school?
A: It was big, man. I felt like I was as good as anybody, but I just went to a small school. It was pretty cool because I would say my draft class that I was drafted with [Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson] was a lot of guys that had a chip on their shoulders. And then when I got to the Seahawks and I was like being around guys like Sherm and Kam [Chancellor] and Earl [Thomas], no matter where they were at or where they were drafted or anything like that, they all had chips on their shoulder, so it was easy for us to bond with one another because we all had the same chip as far as people not thinking we could do something that we knew we were capable of doing.
Q: What is the biggest adversity or obstacle you’ve had to overcome?
A: Easy. Losing my mom [Pheina in 2009], for sure. … She was everything, everything for me. She was my life, my world, my rock, my best friend, she was everything. So I lost her during college. I actually thought about quitting football after that, but I got good support system that gave me some encouragement. … She had a couple of strokes and a heart attack.
Q: You’re very committed to stroke awareness.
A: When she had her first stroke, I didn’t know what a stroke was. I just think as you try to keep her legacy, you also try to help people that suffer from the things that she suffered from because I know that’s what she would do if she was still here.
Q: You have 1,838 career tackles in the regular season. Who will be your Hall of Fame presenter?
A: (Laugh) I don’t know, I’m not sure. I haven’t thought about it, to be honest. Trying to see if I can get that number as high as I possibly can.
Q: What are you most proud of about your career?
A: I would say remaining who I am. When I came into the league, you heard stories about guys changing when they got money or certain things. I think I surrounded myself with some really good people that kept me grounded. And I definitely would say longevity. You hear stories about like guys only last for three years, and you kind of exceeded that number. And I think, too, I would say just trying to be good at passing down knowledge that I received over my career and be good in the community that I’m in.
Q: Describe your on-field mentality.
A: My mentality is like a general. I’m the guy that everybody’s looking at to get the plays, and I feel like I’m a guy that kind of is the quarterback of the defense, and I take pride in the linebacker position watching guys like Ray Lewis, and the Lance Briggses, the Mike Singletarys, the Patrick Willises, all those guys. I take pride in keeping this position a special position.
Q: Describe the ecstasy of winning a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, and the agony of losing a Super Bowl the following year.
A: It’s crazy because you win it so young, right? It was my second year I won it, and everybody was telling us that we would never get there again, and then we got there again the second time, although we lost. And so in our mind, you think you’re going to go every year. And I haven’t been back since. And so, I don’t think I appreciated the Super Bowl when I won, and so, God willing, if I ever get the opportunity again, I will make sure that it’s appreciated.
Q: Was the loss especially painful because of the uproar over Marshawn Lynch not getting the ball at the Patriots’ 1 with just seconds remaining?
A: Yeah, but I mean, stuff happens, man, and it’s been so much time. I think a lot of times people dwell on the past they can’t change. It hurt in the moment, but it wasn’t going to define our careers. You got to keep pushing at some point.
Q: What do you remember about Russell Wilson the rookie in training camp?
A: We had signed a veteran quarterback [Matt Flynn], but Russ looked like the starter. Russ prepared like a starter, looked like the starter, he had confidence. I remember the confidence, I remember the poise and a lot of great plays.
Q: What do you think of what he’s done with the Steelers?
A: I think a lot of people wrote him off, and for him to come in and do what he did, do what he’s doing, I think it was fun to see, and it was good to see him having fun playing football. That was fun to watch.
Q: Describe the “Legion of Boom” in Seattle.
A: Fourth down, game on the line, timeout, and Sherm’s asking, “Did you watch that show yesterday?” We were just so relaxed and so confident because we knew we put in the work.
Q: What do you think of your old coach Pete Carroll possibly returning to coach again?
A: If anybody can do it, he can. His energy is unlike any other you’ve been around. His ability to get the best out of people and get the best out of players is unlike anybody you’ve been around.
Q: Leonard Williams.
A: Again, I kind of harp on it, but it’s like he went to a place [Seattle] that appreciated him and that’s what happens when you appreciate the talent you have.
Q: Julian Love.
A: You could tell he’s the guy that secondary leans on. It’s kind of interesting, those guys leave to a place that appreciates them and then they excel even more than what they were doing in New York.
Q: Explain the bond between you and Commanders coach Dan Quinn.
A: I think it’s just respect, admiration, and just appreciation … for each other. I think we’ve been around each other for a while, and then he went off to do some things, obviously I was doing my thing in Seattle, and there were a couple of times where we tried to reconnect in Dallas but it just didn’t happen, and then we were able to do it here.
Q: Are you going to play until 40 if you can?
A: (Laugh) No, I don’t think football’s one of those sports you want to play till you’re 40 … unless you’re a quarterback.
Q: How does your 34-year-old body feel now?
A: It feels amazing. There’s a lot of things that you could do to keep yourself healthy, just taking care of your body, your brain, everything. And I try to exercise all those things.
Q: Do you think the Chiefs can three-peat?
A: They have a chance. Anytime you have Patrick Mahomes, they have a chance. It’s going to be tough, I think Lamar [Jackson] should give them a run for their money. In my opinion, he’s the MVP.
Q: Have you thought about life after football?
A: I will be in business, some form, some fashion — whether running a fund, running a team, running a company.
Q: You would aspire to be an NFL GM?
A: I don’t think I will do the GM part, but president for sure.
Q: You can pick Magic Johnson’s brain, right?
A: 100 percent. I plan on it.
Q: Have you been impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires?
A: I actually have a place close to Marina del Rey, so I’m just praying for everybody, hoping everybody stays safe and hoping they get it calmed down pretty quickly.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Malcolm X, Tupac [Shakur], either Beyoncé or Oprah [Winfrey].
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Dark Knight.”
Q: Favorite actor?
A: Denzel [Washington].
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Halle Berry.
Q: Favorite entertainers?
A: Kendrick [Lamar] and Jay-Z.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Breakfast. I’d eat breakfast all day, every day.
