From championship runs in Seattle to leading defenses across the league, Bobby Wagner has been one of the defining defensive players of the modern era. But even after leaving the Seahawks, he’s still finding ways to add to his legacy – now with a shocking accomplishment that has far-reaching ties back to his time in Seattle.
Bobby Wagner: First Player to Intercept Both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes
In his current role with the Washington Commanders, Wagner recorded an interception off Patrick Mahomes on Monday Night Football when a pass intended for Travis Kelce deflected into his arm. That pick places Wagner in rare company — and, according to some reports, may make him the only player in NFL history to have intercepted passes from both Tom Brady (in Super Bowl XLIX) and Mahomes. Bob Condotta writes that the NFL reported the feat after Wagner made the pick against the Chiefs.
That stat, underscores Wagner’s sustained excellence across eras and quarterbacks. His interception of Brady came in Super Bowl XLIX, when Wagner picked off a Brady pass in the Seahawks’ 28-24 loss. Now, more than a decade later, and on a different team, he’s making plays against Mahomes – a player often considered Brady’s heir in the quarterback pantheon.
A Defensive Icon Who Defined a Seahawks Era
Wagner’s best individual campaign in Seattle came in 2016, when he led the entire NFL with 167 total tackles and added 4.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and an interception. That season earned him first-team All-Pro honors, one of six times he’s received the distinction. He would eventually become Seattle’s all-time leader in tackles and one of just two remaining players — alongside Russell Wilson — from the Seahawks’ 2013 Super Bowl championship roster.
Now 35 and in his second season with Washington, Wagner continues to defy the aging curve. He signed a one-year contract with the Commanders worth up to $9.5 million after posting 183 tackles for Seattle in 2023, the second-most in the league, according to NFL.com. This year, he’s again among the league leaders in tackles and maintains a top-10 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, even as Washington’s defense has struggled.
From the Seahawks’ vantage point, Wagner’s journey holds special resonance. He joined Seattle in the 2012 draft, became a cornerstone of the Legion of Boom defense that won Super Bowl XLVIII, and amassed franchise records in tackles and longevity. His departure marked the end of an era, but his return to high-level performance reminds Seahawks fans how rare his impact was — and still is.
Wagner is likely a shoe-in for the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible, and it would be shocking to fans if he entered the Hall as for any other team other than the Seahawks.
The interception also comes at a time when the Commanders, a team Wagner joined after his Seattle tenure, are struggling. Washington’s defense ranks 27th in total defense and 30th against the pass this season, according to recent data. Wagner’s pick in that context highlights how even in difficult seasons, his individual production remains elite.
For Seahawks fans, Wagner’s pick against Mahomes is more than a highlight—it’s a narrative arc completed. The linebacker who once anchored Seattle’s dominant front now stands alone in an elite stat category, bridging generations of NFL quarterbacks and playoff moments.
And for Seahawks fans, it’s another layer of intrigue as the Seahawks get ready to take on Wagner and the Commanders on November 2.
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