2023 NFL captains: A look at the leaders for all 32 teams, who is new to the list and who was snubbed

Here's a look at which NFL players who will be team captains in 2023

By Shanna McCarriston

Sep 6, 2023 at 5:27 pm ET • 5 min read

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The 2023 NFL season is just days away and teams are getting in their final preparations for Week 1. One element each team needs to sort out before the year begins is who the team captains will be.

Some teams have their players vote for team captains, while others have the head coach pick. One team does not have year-long captains at all.

With 32 teams and multiple captains for each one, it can be hard to keep straight who has a "C" on their jersey. Below we compiled a list of each squad's designated leader, along with how many seasons they have been a captain with their current team.

Arizona Cardinals

QB Kyler Murray, four-time captain
LT D.J. Humphries, four-time captain
ILB Kyzir White, first-time captain
S Budda Baker, four-time captain
RB James Conner, two-time captain
OLB/ST Dennis Gardeck, four time captain

Additional notes: Murray was selected a captain, but will begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list.

Atlanta Falcons

DL Grady Jarrett, five-time captain
DB Jessie Bates III, first-time captain
OL Jake Matthews, returning captain
OL Chris Lindstrom, first-time captain
K YoungHoe Koo, second-time captain

Additional notes: Quarterback Desmond Ridder was not named a captain. Typically, starting quarterbacks are named captains, though it is not always the case, as we see here.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens do not have any year-long captains and instead name them weekly.

Buffalo Bills

QB Josh Allen, five-time captain
WR Stefon Diggs, three-time captain
WR Gabe Davis, first-time captain
C Mitch Morse, two-time captain
S Jordan Poyer, four-time captain
S Micah Hyde, three-time captain
LB Von Miller, two-time captain
LB Tyler Matakevich, three-time captain

Additional notes: This is Davis' fourth year on the team, but his first year as a captain.

Carolina Panthers

OLB Brian Burns, three-time captain
RT Taylor Moton, three-time captain
QB Bryce Young, first-time captain
WR Adam Thielen, first-time captain
P Johnny Hekker, first-time captain
LB Shaq Thompson, four-time captain

Chicago Bears

QB Justin Fields, two-time captain
WR DJ Moore, first-time captain
MLB Tremaine Edmunds, first-time captain
S Eddie Jackson, second-time captain

Additional notes: Last season, Jackson started the year as an honorary captain and was promoted to full time in the role halfway through the year. Tackle Cody Whitehair was a captain last year, but this season Moore received more votes than him.

Cincinnati Bengals

QB Joe Burrow, three-time captain
C Ted Karras, two-time captain
HB Joe Mixon, three-time captain
CB Mike Hilton, first-time captain
DE Sam Hubbard, two-time captain
DT DJ Reader, two-time captain

Cleveland Browns

QB Deshaun Watson, first-time captain
DE Myles Garrett, returning captain
LB Anthony Walker Jr., returning captain
G Joel Bitonio, returning captain
LS Charley Hughlett, returning captain

Additional notes: According to head coach Kevin Stafanski, the Browns players were adamant that Watson was a captain.

Dallas Cowboys

TBD

Denver Broncos

TBD

Detroit Lions

QB Jared Goff, three-year captain
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, first-time captain
OT Penei Sewell, first-time captain
LB Alex Anzalone, three-year captain
EDGE Charles Harris, first-time captain
ST Jalen Reeves-Maybin, second-time captain

Green Bay Packers

TBD

Houston Texans

QB CJ Stroud, first time captain
S Jalen Pitre, first-time captain
OL Laremy Tunsil, two-time captain
S Jimmie Ward, first-time captain

Additional notes: Tunsil was a captain for the second half of the 2022 season.

Indianapolis Colts

QB Anthony Richardson, first-time captain
LB Zaire Franklin, four-time captain
LB Shaquille Leonard, five time captain
C Ryan Kelly, first-time captain
CB Kenny Moore II, two-time captain
G Quenton Nelson, three-time captain

Jacksonville Jaguars

QB Trevor Lawrence, three-time captain
RG Brandon Scherff, two-time captain
DL Roy Robertson-Harris, first-time captain
LB Foyesade Oluokun, two-time captain
S Andrew Wingard, first-time captain

Kansas City Chiefs

TBD

Las Vegas Raiders

WR Davante Adams, two-time captain
K Daniel Carlson, first-time captain
P AJ Cole, two-time captain
DE Maxx Crosby, three-time captain
S Marcus Epps, first-time captain
QB Jimmy Garoppolo, first-time captain
RB Josh Jacobs, two-time captain
LT Kolton Miller, two-time captain
LB Robert Spillane, first-time captain

Los Angeles Chargers

WR Keenan Allen, returning captain
RB Austin Ekeler, returning captain
LS Josh Harris
QB Justin Herbert, returning captain
S Derwin James Jr., returning captain
DT Sebastian Joseph-Day, returning captain
LB Eric Kendricks, first-time captain
LB Khalil Mack, two-time captain

Los Angeles Rams

QB Matthew Stafford, three-time captain
WR Cooper Kupp, four-time captain
OL Rob Havenstein, two-time captain
TE Tyler Higbee, first-time captain
DT Aaron Donald, six-time captain
DB Jordan Fuller, two-time captain
LB Ernest Jones, first-time captain
WR Ben Skowronek, first-time captain

Miami Dolphins

QB Tua Tagovailoa, two-time captain
WR Tyreek Hill, two-time captain
RB Alec Ingold, first-time captain
T Terron Armstead, two-time captain
DT Christian Wilkins, two-time captain
CB Xavien Howard, two-time captain
S Jevon Holland, two-time captain

Additional notes: Miami's captains this season are the same as last season, with the exception of Ingold replacing Elandon Roberts who is now with the Steelers.

Minnesota Vikings

QB Kirk Cousins, six-time captain
WR Justin Jefferson, first-time captain
S Harrison Smith, four-time captain
OT Brian O'Neill, three-time captain
FB C.J. Ham, three-time captain
DE Danielle Hunter, first-time captain
LB Jordan Hicks, first-time captain
ST Josh Metellus, first-time captain

New England Patriots

TBD

Additional notes: Special teamer Matthew Slater, quarterback Mac Jones and offensive lineman David Andrews are expected to be named captains this season.

New Orleans Saints

DE Cameron Jordan, five-year captain
S Tyrann Mathieu, first-time captain
S J.T. Gray, three-time captain
LS Zach Wood, first-time captain
OL Erik McCoy, first-time captain
QB Derek Carr, first-time captain

New York Giants

QB Daniel Jones, four-time captain
RB Saquon Barkley, five-time captain
OT Andrew Thomas, second-time captain
TE Darren Waller, first-time captain
NT Dexter Lawrence, two-time captain
DE Leonard Williams, two-time captain
LB Bobby Okereke, first-time captain
CB Adoree' Jackson, first-time captain
S Xavier McKinney, two-time captain
K Graham Gano, three-time captain

New York Jets

LB C.J. Mosley, four-time captain
CB/ST Justin Hardee, three-time captain
QB Aaron Rodgers, first-time captain

Additional notes: It is no surprise that Rodgers became captain in his first year with his new team, after being a captain for the majority of his time with the Packers.

Philadelphia Eagles

QB Jalen Hurts, three time captain
C Jason Kelce, six-time captain
OT Lane Johnson, two-time captain
DT Fletcher Cox, six-time captain
DE Brandon Graham, five-time captain
CB Darius Slay, two-time captain
K Jake Elliott, two-time captain
WR A.J. Brown, first-time captain
WR DeVonta Smith, first-time captain