Ageless Commanders wonder tipped to crash race for NFL defensive crown

People have been waiting for Father Time to catch up with Bobby Wagner for years. Based on the veteran linebacker's outstanding first campaign with the Washington Commanders, they might be waiting for a while yet.

One NFL analyst went a step further, proclaiming that Wagner could crash the race for the league's top defensive prize in 2025.

Wagner is a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. His numbers are nothing short of exceptional, and his leadership in the locker room is even more impressive. The Commanders' culture shift under head coach Dan Quinn doesn't go as smoothly without him, which has deservedly secured another deal from the franchise.

The former second-round pick out of Utah State has lost a little explosiveness, which comes across in coverage. Wagner is a cerebral assassin these days, relying on his exceptional football IQ to get him in the right spots consistently. He's got Frankie Luvu to provide the dynamism, which quickly emerged as one of the NFL's most productive second-level tandems in 2024.

Commanders LB Bobby Wagner shows no signs of slowing down entering Year 14

Whether a glittering career finally catches up to Wagner next season remains to be seen. Jacob Infante from Pro Football Network believes the ageless wonder has another highly productive year left, naming him as Washington's candidate to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.

Heading into Year 14 of his illustrious NFL career, Bobby Wagner is as good now as he’s ever been. That feels absurd to say, but it’s true. Wagner has been an All-Pro for a whopping 11 seasons in a row. He’s a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and still one of the best off-ball linebackers in the game today.Jacob Infante

This award typically goes to a dominant edge rusher or a shutdown cornerback. The last true linebacker to claim the prize was Luke Kuechly in 2013. Before that, it was Brian Urlacher in 2003.

Wagner achieving the same distinction this far into his NFL journey is unrealistic. It would be nice, but the six-time All-Pro is all about the team.

If Washington goes deep into the postseason again and Wagner manages to make a telling contribution, that will be enough. Whatever comes after that in terms of individual accolades is just a bonus.

At 35 years old next season, this might be Wagner's final hurrah. His teammates will do everything in their power to make it a good one of this is the end. That's the least he deserves after giving so much to the game.

Winning Defensive Player of the Year might be a stretch. But that doesn't detract from how integral Wagner is to the team's plans in 2025.

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