When the Washington Commanders went 12-5 and reached the NFC Championship Game last season, we heard a lot about the culture. New head coach Dan Quinn immediately changed the culture, with some help from new GM Adam Peters, new ownership, and specific veteran players, such as Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, Austin Ekeler, and others.
That culture has been tested this year. The Commanders are now 4-11 and looked headed toward a 4-13 season and a potential top-five pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Injuries have decimated the roster. Washington has been out of playoff contention for weeks. Yet, Wagner, a future Hall of Famer, is on the field every week. In fact, he never leaves the field. Outside of a few snaps against Dallas in Week 7, Wagner has played 100% of Washington’s defensive snaps this season.
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It’s been another productive season for Wagner. However, it hasn’t been perfect. Wagner’s limitations in coverage are often exposed, drawing the ire of some fans. He remains a force against the run, but teams are finding ways to target him in coverage.
In Saturday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Wagner had perhaps his best game of the season. Check out these numbers:
That’s truly remarkable. How many inside linebackers are still doing that? Sure, Wagner has lost a step or two, but he’s doing this for a 4-11 team, while players across the league are thinking about their offseason plans. And you wonder why head coach Dan Quinn wants Wagner on the field?
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When asked on Monday about players caring more about legacy than money, Quinn said this about Wagner.
“I thought Bobby Wagner, guys of just consistency, steady performance,” he said. “There’s no rollercoaster in the best of and the hardest of times; they’re just that type of consistent. But I would say Wags is probably the one that comes to mind the most in the highest of highs and lowest of lows, man, he’s able to maintain this level of intensity that’s just remarkable. So, I think that’s the first person that would come to mind.”
Not only does he remain the team’s most productive player, but he sets the standard. He truly leads by example. Wagner is not only a future Hall of Famer, but he’s also a culture guy. Washington’s culture can’t be questioned when your 35-year-old linebacker is out there on every play, still delivering results. How invaluable is it for Peters and Quinn to have Wagner showing these young players how to perform even during the worst of times?
If the Commanders can get things turned back around next season, you can look back on how Wagner and Ertz set the standard in one of the most frustrating and disappointing seasons in franchise history.
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This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Why Bobby Wagner never leaves the field
