Los Angeles Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner tackled an animal-rights activist who ran on to the field carrying a pink flare during the Rams’ game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

The protestor, widely identified as Alex Taylor of Direct Action Everywhere, filed an assault complaint following the incident.

The 240lb Wagner, a Super Bowl champion and six-time All Pro, said he had tackled the protestor out of concern for others’ safety.

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“That’s not making a play,” Wagner said after the game. “That’s just keeping it safe. You don’t know what that fan got or what they’re doing. You see it all the time, and we don’t know what they’re carrying in their pockets. It’s whatever that little smoke stuff is, but that shit could be dangerous. … One of the [security] guys on the other side, it looked like he got hurt, and security looked like he was struggling, so I was frustrated, so I took it out on him.”

Who is Bobby Wagner?

Bobby Wagner is an American football middle linebacker who plays for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

The 32-year-old attended Colony High School in Ontario, California, where he played high school football for the Titans. He graduated from Utah State University where he studied from 2008 to 2011.

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College Career: 

Wagner recorded 445 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and four interceptions during his career. As a senior in 2011, he was the WAC Defensive Player of the Year after recording 147 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions.

NFL Career: 

Wagner was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine as a result of his Senior Bowl performance, but he was unable to go because of pneumonia. The Seattle Seahawks selected Wagner in the second round (47th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. he signed a four-year, $4.30 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks on May 7, 2012, with $2.51 million guaranteed and a $1.57 million signing bonus.

He is the 11th highest player selected in the NFL draft from Utah State and the highest since Rulon Jones in 1980. The Seattle Seahawks also drafted his Utah State teammate Robert Turbin in the fourth round.

After serving with the Seahawks for 10 seasons, Wagner was released on March 9, 2022. On March 31, 2022, Wagner agreed to a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams worth up to $65 million.