The Los Angeles Rams were just four points short of returning to the Super Bowl under head coach Sean McVay.
The team finished the season with a record of 12-5. They defeated the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears in the playoffs before facing the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. However, they lost that game 31-27, and the Seahawks went on to win the Super Bowl. However, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford achieved a milestone by winning his first MVP award.
The team had a solid year, but their defense was inconsistent. They finished ranked No. 17 in total defense, No. 19 in passing defense, No. 12 in rushing defense and No. 17 in scoring defense. To strengthen this unit, Fox Sports' Greg Auman predicts that the Rams will sign six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner from the Washington Commanders. This would mark a return for Wagner, who played for the Rams in 2022.
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"Wagner, 35, is also years past people saying it's amazing he was still playing," Auman wrote. "He had 162 tackles for Washington in 2025, with 4.5 sacks and two interceptions, missing Pro Bowl honors (he's made it 10 times already). A new coordinator for the Commanders could mean Wagner is signing elsewhere, a future Hall of Famer still making plays on a consistent basis. Could he return to the Seahawks or Rams and try to chase a second ring on the way out?"
The effect of reuniting with Wagner would be leadership and production for a defense that hovered around league average in 2025. Wagner, even at 35, remains a tackling machine, posting 162 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions last season in Washington. His ability to diagnose plays and command the middle of the field would instantly raise the unit’s floor.
From a broader standpoint, championship-caliber teams often supplement their cores with experienced veterans who understand postseason football. Wagner’s résumé speaks for itself: 10 Pro Bowls, six All-Pro selections and a Super Bowl ring. Having already played in McVay’s team in 2022, his transition would likely be seamless. For a team that came just four points shy of a Super Bowl return, marginal defensive improvement could make the ultimate difference.
Looking ahead, with Stafford coming off an MVP season, the Rams’ championship window remains open right now. Adding Wagner would signal urgency, a win-now move designed to capitalize on that momentum. If Los Angeles can shore up its defensive consistency, a reunion with the potential future Hall of Famer might be the piece that pushes the Rams back to the Super Bowl in 2026.