fashioned by new general manager Adam Peters for Quinn, who coached Wagner for two years as an assistant with Seattle when they won a Super Bowl together.

On the same day Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald announced he was retiring, Wagner brushed off the thought of doing the same. He intended to trust the process, knowing that, while he’s past his prime, he still takes care of his body with yoga and physical therapy and is still fired up to play the game.

“What keeps me motivated is just wanting to be great and wanting to do it for a long time,” Wagner said. “Watching guys like LeBron and people that’s been able to do it at a high level for a long time, I think that’s what keeps me going.”

At this stage, Wagner is a role model for that himself. New teammate and fellow linebacker Anthony Pittman, slightly younger at 27, said he has looked up to Wagner and studied his play for a long time.

“Not to make him sound old, because he’s still playing at a high level, but I’m excited to just learn from him and take whatever I can from it,” Pittman said Thursday. “Just observe and study.”

The same goes for Frankie Luvu, another linebacker the Commanders signed to replenish the position. Wagner and Luvu have worked out together before and figure to be starting together in Washington.

“He’s the epitome of a linebacker,” Luvu said. “He does it all: student of the game, how he goes about his ways, the habits, watching film. To have him in the building and to work with him is a blessing.”