Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner has graduated from the Howard University School of Business Executive MBA program, ESPN reports.
The program is fast-tracked, designed for experienced professionals seeking advanced training in leadership, strategy, and organizational management rather than a traditional two-year MBA track.
Wagner enrolled in the 18-month program in January 2025. He actively played in the NFL, balancing coursework with professional responsibilities. But he worked through the year and competed the course in only 12 months.
In an interview with ESPN, Wagner said his goal is to earn long-term opportunities outside of football, and be respected as a businessman.
“Sometimes when you come from playing football and go into the business world,” he said, “a lot of people feel like the reason why you’re able to get into those spaces is because of people that you know and they feel like we skip steps or they feel like we haven’t done the work.”
Howard University officials praised Wagner’s educational journey and described his participation as aligned with the institution’s mission to educate leaders across industries.
Wagner has previously spoken about his interest in ownership, investment and community development initiatives after his playing career. Wagner believes his pursuit of higher education in business is a natural pathway.
“You can master the field you’re in and also learn and study other things,” he told ESPN.
Wagner’s academic milestone comes as more athletes use the offseason to prepare for second careers, with executive education programs increasingly positioning themselves as bridges between elite sports and corporate leadership.
While some may criticize his decision to attend the HBCU, Wagner said the criticism does not faze him.
“From the outside world, if you do something else, then they feel like you’re not focused,” Wagner said. “And then when you retire and don’t have nothing going on, they’re like, ‘Why you didn’t do something else?’ And so you can’t really listen to what people saying because they’re not you at the end of your career and trying to figure stuff out. I’m trying to break that concept.”
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