Bobby Wagner will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best linebackers in NFL history whenever he decides to hang up his shoulder pads. A cornerstone of the Seahawks’ famous “Legion of Boom” Wagner’s resume as a cornerstone of one of the greatest defenses ever should speak for itself.
But, even when you’re a Super Bowl champion and dynamite defender year in and year out, it seems you’ve still got to put yourself out there. That’s a lesson Wagner learned this offseason after the Seahawks — his only NFL home for a decade — released the perennial All-Pro.
According to a report from the LA Times’ Gary Klein, following his release from Seattle, Wagner made it a point to send texts to teams around the league in his search for a new pro football home. He introduced himself as his own representative and said folks could contact him if interested in his services.
As Rams GM Les Snead told the LA Times, it understandably seemed like a bit of a jarring (and a little unbelievable?) experience for a stud linebacker to send random texts about potentially joining a new team:
“I think he [Wagner] signed off as Bwagz,” Snead said, “And I’m like, ‘OK, is this real?”
“Everybody thought it was a fake,” Wagner said.
The Rams would, of course, check whether it was Wagner actually texting Snead and Co. (he was!), and the rest is history.
It goes to show that you’re never necessarily above putting yourself out there. Even if you’re a superstar whose work speaks for itself, more or less, you can always build a bridge to new connections. Like, say, the defending Super Bowl champions in sunny Southern California. Not a bad way for the second act of Wagner’s illustrious career to begin.
