RENTON -- Bobby Wagner has the record for most tackles in a single game in franchise history. He has the record for longest interception return for a touchdown in franchise history. He has the record for most tackles in a single season in franchise history.
And on Sunday in Atlanta, Bobby Wagner will likely add the title of Seahawks' all-time leading tackler to his resume.
Wagner finds himself just one tackle behind safety Eugene Robinson for most career tackles in franchise history. Robinson has held the mark since the end of his tenure with Seattle in 1995. Robinson spent 11 seasons with the Seahawks and racked up 984 tackles in 170 career games with the franchise.
Wagner has reached 983 career tackles with the franchise in 110 games with the Seahawks.
"It’s kind of a testament to hard work," Wagner said on Wednesday. "When you first enter the league, you kind of don’t know what your career is going to look like, and I still feel like I have a lot left, but to be at the top of a list like that with all the players that played here would definitely be a blessing.
"But I’ve got a lot more games to play. I can’t say I’m really focused on it, I’m just trying to enjoy the game and play with passion.”
Two tackles on Sunday against the Falcons will give Wagner the top spot. How likely is that to happen? Well, Wagner has never had fewer than two tackles in any game in his eight-year career with the Seahawks. Wagner has only had two games in his career when he even recorded as few as two tackles: a 34-28 loss at Indianapolis in 2013, and a 36-6 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the final game of the 2015 regular season.
"I can't wait for him to get it. I brought it up to him last week. I was like 'bro, you're about to get there.' He acted like he didn't know what I was talking about. I know he knew," linebacker K.J. Wright said with a laugh. "It's phenomenal, man. Bobby is obviously a Ring of Honor player, definitely on his way to the Hall of Fame. Just his consistency, his dominating tackles. He didn't miss but one tackle last year. It just shows the work he puts in. We train together in the offseason. And it's just his consistency and his preparation and I can't wait for him to get to 1,000."
Wright has been four-time, first-team All-Pro (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) and a second-team All-Pro (2015). His 19 tackles against the New Orleans Saints earlier this season was the most ever by a Seahawks player, surpassing the 18 tackles of Sammy Green against Minnesota in 1978. His 98-yard interception return for a touchdown last season against the San Francisco 49ers was the longest in franchise history. Wagner also has two of the top-five seasons in team history for tackles in a season. His 140 tackles as a rookie in 2012 ranks fifth all-time while his 167 tackles in 2016 surpassed the 153 tackles of Terry Beeson in 1978 for the top spot.
Meanwhile, Wright is just five tackles behind defensive tackle Joe Nash for fourth on the all-time list. Nash recorded 779 tackles in his 15-year career with the Seahawks from 1982-96. Wright has 774 since getting to Seattle as a fourth-round draft pick in 2011.
"I honestly don't know," said Wright, knowing he wouldn't be taken seriously immediately after saying Wagner didn't know where he sat either. "I knew I was top five but I haven't looked at the list lately."
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Photo Credit: SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 15: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the ball past Bobby Wagner #54 of the Seattle Seahawks in the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on November 15, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)