Bobby Wagner Speaks Out on Tackling Animal Rights Activist During Monday Night Football

Talk about a highlight in an otherwise boring game.

A protester got a taste of what playing football is like when NFL linebacker Bobby Wagner tackled him on Monday night as the Los Angeles Rams hosted the San Francisco 49ers. At the end of the first half, an anmial rights activist ran onto the field at the Levi’s Stadium carrying a pink flare, which stopped play in order to wrangle him off the field. While he initially evaded security, he made the mistake of running towards the Rams defensive bench.

Enter Bobby Wagner. Wagner and his teammate Takkarist McKinley saw him coming and, as McKinley tried to grab hold of the protester, Wagner crushed him.

Wagner walked away as security escorted the man off the field. Speaking about the incident after the game, Wagner explained what he did and why he did it.

“He looked like he wasn’t supposed to be on the field,” Wagner told reporters after the game. “I saw security was having a little problem – so I helped him out.”

Peyton and Eli Manning, who were part of the ManningCast for the game, seemed to enjoy what they were seeing:

“That’s what we’re talking about. Wagner, a veteran. Get him down, now get out and let the guys takeover. Bobby Wagner, a veteran play,” Peyton laughed. 

Direct Action Everywhere posted a picture on Twitter of the two activists after they were released, adding that they were “a bit beaten up but in good spirits.”

It also said the man tackled by Wagner had a burn on his arm, which you can see in the pic above.

Hope it was worth it.


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