Bobby Wagner joined an elite club when he became just the third player in NFL history to record 2,000 career tackles, and who better to congratulate him than one of the other two players to reach the milestone?
As the Washington Commanders piled into the visiting team locker room to celebrate their 24-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, former linebacker London Fletcher, who spent seven of his 16 seasons with Washington and is second all-time in combined tackles, presented Wagner with the game ball and welcomed him into the elite fraternity.
"That number is a lot more when you dig deep into it," Fletcher said on the "Get Loud" podcast. "You have to have sustained dominance. You have to have a commitment to excellence."
Wagner can certainly check both boxes. He has recorded at least 100 tackles in each of his 14 seasons and been selected for 10 Pro Bowls. He recorded 162 tackles last season, which not only led the team and ranked fifth in the NFL but was also the fourth most single-season total of his career. He needed five tackles to hit 2,000 heading into the Commanders' season finale, and he hit that number with two minutes left in the third quarter.
"That part is special; to be able to do that for this city and this jersey and to have him be the guy that presents it to you is special," Wagner said of Fletcher presenting him with the game ball.
Wagner's relationship with Fletcher extends longer than the two seasons Wagner has played for the Commanders. Back in 2019, Wagner reached out to Fletcher for advice on how to have a long career and remain consistent. Fletcher took Wagner's phone call "without question," according to Wagner, and gave him everything he needed to know.
Fletcher still remembers that conversation and appreciated that Wagner sought him out for his perspective.
"I'm always available to players who want to learn and ask me questions," Fletcher said.
Wagner, who is set to be a free agent in March, hasn't revealed his plans for next season. If he does decide to return, he has a realistic chance of surpassing both Fletcher (2,039) and Ray Lewis (2,059) for the most combined tackles in NFL history. Should he decide to return for a 15th season, it would be one of the greatest accomplishments in what many already consider to be a Hall of Fame career.
Based on how Wagner has approached every other NFL season, Fletcher believes he can easily surpass both himself and Lewis.
"You can have people that can do it one year, or maybe two years, but not many people are willing or able to do it year after year after year," Fletcher said. "Because it's hard. If there was an easier way to do it, people would do it. But it requires what it requires."
