Joe Nicholson / USA TODAY Sports
It’s the end of an era in Seattle. On the same day, the Seahawks pulled the trigger on a deal that saw quarterback Russell Wilson move to the Denver Broncos. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team has informed All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner of his release. The move saved Seattle $16.6 million from the salary cap and also allowed Wagner to immediately sign with a new team before free agency began next week.
Until that point, Wagner had spent his entire NFL career with the Seahawks. The former Utah product was selected by the team in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the same draft in which the team selected Wilson in the third round.
Out of the net, Wagner proved to be an influential player for the franchise as he started in 15 of his 16 games as a rookie and scored 140 tackles as well as two sacks. The following year, he helped Seattle’s dominant defense known as the Boom Legion to their first (and only) Super Bowl title with a dominant 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos. In that game, Wagner made 10 tackles.
Along with lifting the Lombardi trophy in a Seahawks helmet, Wagner made the All-Pro first team six times and reached the Pro Bowl in eight of his 10 seasons with the team. He was also named to the 2010s NFL All-Decade Team and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Wagner played in 16 games last season and racked up a career-high 170 tackles, five passes, a forced fumble and a sack.
With this release and the Wilson trade, Seattle walked away from the two longest-serving players on the same day.