Bobby Wagner has officially earned a new nickname—and he wants everyone to use it.

The NFL linebacker and free agent returned to his alma mater, Utah State, on April 29 to deliver a commencement speech, where he received an honorary doctorate degree. Wagner, a 10-time Pro Bowler and the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, took the opportunity to have some fun with the achievement.

"If you didn’t know, my name is now Dr. Bobby Wagner," he joked during his speech. "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."

Wagner isn't the first NFL star to receive an honorary degree—Tom Brady and Harrison Butker have also been honored in similar ceremonies—but his playful request to be addressed as "Dr. Wagner" added a memorable twist to the festivities.

The speech itself was classic Wagner: lighthearted, heartfelt, and full of personality. He poked fun at Stanford, lamented that the local Target wasn't built during his college days, and shared the story of how he ended up at Utah State in the first place. According to Wagner, his mother gave him a simple ultimatum when he was hesitant to accept his first scholarship offer.

"She told me I either accept the scholarship, or I wasn’t coming back home," Wagner recalled. "Back then there was no Ubers. There was no NIL. I wasn’t getting paid. So, I accepted the scholarship."

From that tough-love moment to becoming Dr. Wagner, it's been quite a journey for the linebacker, who continues to make his mark both on and off the field. Whether he's sacking quarterbacks or delivering commencement speeches, Wagner remains one of the most respected and entertaining figures in the game.