TLDR:
- Bobby Wagner, linebacker for the Washington Commanders, is making strategic business moves off the field, including investments in various companies.
- Wagner has taken advantage of opportunities off the court, investing in companies like Denali Technologies and the Cultural Leadership Fund.
Bobby Wagner, linebacker for the Washington Commanders, is preparing for life after the NFL by making strategic business moves off the field. Wagner negotiated his current one-year contract with the Commanders worth $8.5 million without an agent, impressing Magic Johnson, who is a limited partner of the team. Throughout his NFL career, which began in 2012 with the Seattle Seahawks, Wagner has focused on his education and investments. Inspired by his mother’s career in finance, Wagner majored in business entrepreneurship and is currently pursuing an MBA at Howard University. He has made calculated investments in companies like Tonal, Therabody, and Denali Technologies, with his stake reportedly tripling before the company’s IPO in 2017.
Wagner has also invested in the Cultural Leadership Fund, a venture capital firm focused on increasing Black talent in technology roles. Looking towards the future, Wagner hopes to expand his role in the business world, potentially taking on positions like team president or league commissioner. By building relationships with key figures like NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Wagner is laying the foundation for his post-football career. Goodell has praised Wagner’s enthusiasm for learning about various aspects of the business and values his perspective as a player on important issues. Wagner emphasizes the importance of athletes understanding the business side of their industry, in addition to exploring other ventures.
