Bobby Wagner, a 13-year National Football League (NFL) veteran, has long been known as one of the league’s savviest business minds. Six years into his career, Wagner decided to serve as his own agent and has negotiated his last four contracts, including the one-year deal worth up to $8.5 million he signed with the Washington Commanders last March.

So, it should come as no surprise that Wagner is looking to enhance his business acumen by pursuing a degree from Howard University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, which is designed to allow working professionals to maintain their careers while earning a business degree from the only HBCU ranked on Bloomberg Businessweek’s list of top U.S. business schools.

It just so happens that Wagner has also helped the Commanders to their best season in two decades, energizing a fanbase hungry for a winning team and generating buzz amongst Bison faithful as the team marches through the NFL playoffs. On Saturday, the Commanders face the Detroit Lions in the NFL’s divisional round.

“There is a lot of excitement around having a prominent NFL player and someone who is doing great things off the field choose Howard University as his institution of choice,” said Mariko Carson, Ed.D., director of graduate affairs at the Howard University School of Business. “And we’re thrilled to see that Bobby and his team are having such an amazing season.”

Wagner, a six-time NFL All-Pro, earned a bachelor’s degree in business entrepreneurship from Utah State University in 2012. He enrolled in Howard’s online program in 2024 and is scheduled to complete his degree by December 2025. According to the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), which serves as the official union for players, there are 244 active and former players taking advantage of the NFL Player Tuition Plan program.

Hopefully, his decision empowers the next generation of players and students in general to see that, if Bobby Wagner believes in HBCUs, they, too can get an education that leads to a successful life at one of these schools.”

The part-time program is a three-year track, but some students can take more courses to finish in two years, Carson said.

“We’re definitely flexible with students who would like to move through the program a little faster. It’s rather impressive that, in addition to his responsibilities on the field and his community service work promoting mentorship and financial literacy, [Wagner] has been adamant about taking care of his academic responsibility at a much faster pace than our typical students. It’s clear he is driven to do his best and be a winner in everything he takes on.”

In addition to his impressive performance on the field – including an important fumble recovery late in the Commanders’ first round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday – Wagner has been a great community leader. In his first year with the team, the Commanders named Wagner its 2024 candidate for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his work around youth empowerment. Wagner’s “Inspiring Futures” initiative includes mentorship programs for at-risk youth and financial literacy workshops designed to help families achieve financial stability. Wagner’s commitment to helping others makes him so impactful, said Carl Francis, vice president of communications for the NFL Players Association.

“He’s a different dude. He’s been working to elevate the importance of education, and it shows how he carries himself and motivates others. He’s very close to (Commanders’ quarterback) Jayden Daniels and their ‘little brother/big brother’ relationship has been great to see,” Francis said. “Bobby’s professionalism and leadership is clearly rubbing off on Jayden and that’s a reason why you’re seeing a rookie quarterback be so successful.”

Francis adds that Wagner’s decision to enroll at Howard with other notable business schools in the area speaks volumes about how he views HBCUs and what they mean to our community.

“He was very intentional about choosing an HBCU and, hopefully, his decision empowers the next generation of players and students in general to see that, if Bobby Wagner believes in HBCUs, they, too can get an education that leads to a successful life at one of these schools,” Francis said.

Carter agrees, adding that the School of Business has seen an increase in social media traffic since Wagner mentioned his matriculation at Howard University. Around 100 students are currently enrolled in the University’s online MBA program, each being taught by instructors who also teach students enrolled in “residential” or in-person classes. The expectations are the same for all students, Carson said, and Wagner has managed to meet all the requirements, including the mandatory in-person orientation. He and other online students are also offered the opportunity to participate in leadership development seminars and the annual MBA Exclusive, an event held each February highlighting business strategies to help professionals advance their careers.

“We are broadening the scope of Howard University’s legacy and ensuring that what we’re putting out is representative of the excellence that Howard University exudes,” Carson said. “If you’re affiliated in any shape or form with Howard, you that in addition to our motto of ‘Truth and Service,’ we consider excellence to be among our core values. And that fact that we’re getting the attention of individuals like Bobby Wagner solidifies the reputation of the School of Business and, more broadly, the institution.”