Prior to each season, Bobby Wagner likes to write down some individual goals, and for a while now, a 150-tackle season has been on that list, as has leading the NFL in that statistical category.
With one game left in the 2016 season, Wagner is already up to 155 tackles, which is an NFL high, 10 ahead of Dallas Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee.
"I've written it down several times, this is just the first time I've actually gotten it," Wagner said. "…You write down things in the offseason and you want to go and get them, but when you actually start getting them, you appreciate it. We've got one more game, so we'll see what happens."
Not only is Wagner's tackle total the highest in the NFL this season, helping him earn Pro-Bowl honors for the third straight year, it is also the most in a season in Seahawks history, eclipsing Terry Beeson's mark of 153, which was established in 1978. Wagner wasn't in a mood to celebrate the record following Saturday's loss to the Cardinals, but he still appreciates the significance of that record.
"I thought it was a really good accomplishment," Wagner said. "I thought it was pretty cool. It was unfortunate to get it under those circumstances—I couldn't really celebrate it like I wanted to—but you really want to appreciate everything. Us being here since 1970-something, it just shows that all the hard work you put into the offseason pays off."
Wagner has been a key player in Seattle's defense ever since arriving as a second-round pick in 2012, but he has taken his game to an even higher level this year, making more tackles, improving in pass coverage while also proving to be a very effective blitzer. Wagner's other written goals in the offseason included improving in pass coverage and becoming more a more vocal leader, all things his teammates and coaches have seen from him this season.
"That's a fantastic accomplishment, an extraordinary demonstration of consistency over the years too," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Wagner's tackle record. "He has really become a great football player and a great leader and he does everything you could hope a guy would do. He had another big game, 10 tackles again and he just does everything."
Asked what he is doing better this year than before, Wagner had a few theories: "Better position, better breaks, better vision, my drops in coverage are a lot better this year, which helps me on my breaks. I thought I was around the ball a lot before, but I feel like I'm around the ball even more."
Yet for all Wagner has done this season, what might be the more impressive accomplishment than this year's numbers is his streak of five straight 100-tackle seasons, a mark of consistency never before achieved by a Seahawk.
"That shows the consistency of, since you came into the game, you've done things consistently," Wagner said. "That's more how well you've played over a course of time."
Team photographer Rod Mar shares behind-the-scenes images from the Seahawks' Week 16 game against the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas Eve at CenturyLink Field.
Kam Chancellor arrives at CenturyLink Field for the Week 16 contest against the visiting Arizona Cardinals.
Receivers Paul Richardson and Tyler Lockett chat in the locker room before early warmups.
Tackle Garry Gilliam stretches on the field two hours before kickoff.
Russell Wilson listens to music on his Bose headphones during his pregame ritual.
Head coach Pete Carroll plays catch before the players arrive on the field for early warmups.
Fans greet players as they emerge from the locker room for pregame warmups.
Tight end Luke Willson listens to position coach Pat McPherson in the locker room before kickoff.
Safety Kelcie McCray prepares to take the field with the rest of the defensive backfield.
The defensive backs get pumped in their pregame circle.
Offensive tackle George Fant waits for his name to be called during pregame introductions.
Quarterback Russell Wilson confers with head coach Pete Carroll in the locker room just before the team took the field for kickoff.
A member of the military helps hold the American flag aloft during the playing of the national anthem prior to kickoff.
Defensive lineman Frank Clark gets focused before taking the field.
Ahtyba Rubin tackles Arizona's David Johnson early in the contest.
Michael Bennett celebrates a sack of Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer in the first quarter.
Safety DeShawn Shead yells after tackling Arizona's David Johnson.
Seattle's Marcel Reese looks to recapture a fumble in the first quarter that led to a turnover.
The Sea Gals were dressed in holiday style for the Christmas Eve game.
Tyler Lockett finds room on the outside as he looks for yardage.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson looks to escape pressure from Arizona's Calais Campbell.
Tyler Lockett has a potential touchdown pass batted away by Arizona defenders in the first quarter.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin is tackled by Arizona's D.J. Swearinger in the second quarter.
Seattle's Bobby Wagner briefly grasped the helmet of Arizona's David Johnson before making the tackle.
Arizona's J.J. Nelson races for a touchdown after getting behind the Seattle defense in the second quarter.
Russell Wilson dances his way upfield, scrambling away from Arizona's Josh Mauro.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin gets behind the Arizona defense for one of his 13 receptions in the game.
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll comforts receiver Tyler Lockett, who was injured near the goal line after a reception in the second quarter.
Seattle receiver Tyler Lockett signals to the crowd as he is helped to a cart to be taken off the field after injuring his leg in the second quarter.
Seattle's Cliff Avril reaches out and strips the ball from Arizona's David Johnson, resulting in a turnover recovered by the Seahawks.
Quarterback Russell Wilson greets teammates as they return to the locker room at halftime.
As part of halftime festivities, the family of U.S. Army Sergeant Scott Young watches a video message from him. Sergeant Young is currently stationed in Iraq while his family lives in Tacoma, WA.
Upon realizing that U.S. Army Sergeant Scott Young was in the stadium for a surprise greeting, his family races to meet him.
The family of U.S. Army Sergeant Scott Young mobs him on the field during halftime as he is reunited with them for the holidays before returning to his deployment in Iraq.
In the second half, Alex Collins got the call, and found yards against the Cardinals defense.
Receiver Doug Baldwin leaps high but a pass in the end zone is batted away.
Receiver Paul Richardson saw extended playing time in the absence of injured teammate Tyler Lockett.
The Seahawks assistant coaches react to a touchdown by Seattle's Jermaine Kearse in the third quarter.
Jermaine Kearse lets out a yell after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter.
Seattle's Jarran Reed muscles down Arizona's David Johnson in the third quarter.
Seattle's Russell Wilson fires a pass in the second half.
Seattle's Doug Baldwin scores in the fourth quarter on a 42-yard reception from Russell Wilson to cut Arizona's lead to three at 21-18.
Receiver Doug Baldwin kneels and prays in the end zone after his touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's Jimmy Graham races for the end zone.
Seattle's Jimmy Graham tumbles into the end zone at the end of a 37-yard TD reception late in the fourth quarter.
Seattle defenders K.J. Wright, Cassius Marsh and Bobby Wagner celebrate a stop.
Paul Richardson takes a bow after his two-yard touchdown reception tied the game at 31-31 with 1:00 remaining in the game.
Michael Bennett tries valiantly for the block, but Chandler Catanzaro's field goal as time expired was good, giving the Cardinals the victory.
Seattle's Justin Britt congratulates Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald after the game.
Head coach Pete Carroll talks to his team in the locker room after the loss.
More than an hour after the game, linebacker Brock Coyle walked across CenturyLInk Field with his longtime girlfriend Brooke.
Waiting at midfield was a table with memorabilia from their relationship and a marriage proposal from Brock. She said yes, as friends and family watched from afar.
