Bobby Wagner Receives Utah State Honorary Doctorate at Commencement
bobby wagner left Utah State University’s 139th Commencement Ceremony with a new title. He received an honorary doctoral degree at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum and told family members to update his name to “Dr. Bobby Wagner.”
“If you didn’t know, my name is now Dr. Bobby Wagner,” he said, then added: “And to any family members here, you need to update my name in your phone. It’s ‘Dr.’ now. I will no longer respond to ‘Bobby.’ It’s Dr. only.”
Dee Glen Smith Spectrum honors Wagner
The ceremony came at Utah State’s 139th commencement, where the university celebrated 6,335 graduates statewide. Wagner was both the commencement speaker and an honorary degree recipient, putting him at the center of the night’s biggest recognition.
That fit the arc of his Utah State story. He recorded 446 tackles at the school, was inducted into the Utah State University Athletics Hall of Fame, and the university said he would join two other former Aggies in having his jersey number retired.
Wagner’s Utah State connection
Wagner spent 14 years in the NFL and built a résumé that includes 2,000 tackles, 39.5 sacks, 10 Pro Bowls and one Super Bowl championship. On February 5, 2026, he also received the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.
He told the Class of 2026 to build connections, stay true to themselves and be fearless while pursuing goals. He also said, “People get mad at me when I say ‘The’ (Utah State University), but you guys don’t understand how special this college is, how much this means to me, and how much none of this in my life could’ve been possible, if it wasn’t for Utah State,” before adding, “From the students, to my coaches, to my family — this would not be possible. I’m here because I took a chance. I’m here because of people who believe in me.”
Class of 2026 audience
Wagner closed with a direct appeal to the crowd: “And I just want to see us win. … It’s really we — us together — trying to show those other Utah places that they are not Utah State,”
For graduates and alumni in the building, the moment tied a university milestone to one of its most recognizable former players. For Wagner, it changed the way he wanted to be addressed long after the applause stopped.
