Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner Earns Historic Second-Team All-Pro Selection

Though the Seattle Seahawks had plenty of problems on defense during the 2023 season, Bobby Wagner remained one of the best linebackers in the sport, garnering a historic 10th All-Pro selection on Friday.

Extending his franchise record, Bobby Wagner was the only member of the Seattle Seahawks named to the Associated Press All-Pro teams on Friday, garnering Second-Team All-Pro honors for the fourth time in his illustrious career.

Wagner, who re-signed with the Seahawks in March after spending one season with the Rams, joined Hall of Fame defenders Ray Lewis and Lawrence Taylor as the only off-ball linebackers to earn 10 or more All-Pro selections. With this being his ninth selection in Seattle, he now has a comfortable lead over tackle Walter Jones, who received six All-Pro selections with the franchise.

Still playing at a high level at 33 years old, Wagner led the NFL with 183 combined tackles this season, nearly tying Jordyn Brooks' franchise record. Starting all 17 games and playing 1,170 defensive snaps for the Seahawks, he also amassed 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hits, and three pass breakups, earning his ninth Pro Bowl selection.

Not showing any signs slowing down as a run defender, Wagner led the NFL in tackles and joined rare company with a 12th straight season surpassing 100 tackles / © Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Continuing to rack up tackles at a historic pace, Wagner became only the fourth player since tackles became an official statistic to eclipse 100 tackles in 12 seasons, joining Lewis, London Fletcher, and Derrick Brooks in exclusive company. Making the accomplishment all the more remarkable, he joined Fletcher and Brooks as the only players to reach that feat in 12 consecutive seasons, an illustration of his incredible durability and longevity.

From a holistic perspective, Wagner unofficially vaulted former Browns and Falcons linebacker Clay Matthews into seventh all-time on the NFL's combined tackles list with 1,706. Four of the six players ahead of him have been selected to the Hall of Fame, where the ex-Utah State star undoubtedly will land with a gold jacket five years after he hangs up his cleats.

Wagner will be an unrestricted free agent in March and intends to play in 2024, telling reporters prior to Seattle's season finale at Arizona that he hoped to stay in the Pacific Northwest for his 13th season.

Away from Wagner, five other Seahawks received All-Pro votes, including safety Julian Love, who received votes both as a defender and special teams standout. In his first year with the organization, he finished with a team-best four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 123 combined tackles, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after picking off Jalen Hurts twice in a Week 15 win over the Eagles.

Others who received votes include rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon, punter Michael Dickson, kick returner DeeJay Dallas, specialist Nick Bellore, and long snapper Chris Stoll.

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Taking the league by storm after being selected fifth overall out of Illinois in the 2023 NFL Draft, Witherspoon became only the seventh player and the first rookie since 1999 to produce 16 passes defensed, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks. Likely a front-runner for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, he was the only rookie defender to make the Pro Bowl roster.

On special teams, Dallas finished seventh in yards per kick return and ninth in yards per punt return, while Dickson ranked sixth in yards per punt and third in net yards per punt this season. Per Pro Football Focus, Love ranked third in the NFL with 10 solo tackles on special teams and Bellore finished with nine total tackles. Stoll didn't have any misfired snaps and both Dickson and kicker Jason Myers performed at a high level with him as the new snapper.