• Key Takeaways: Get the full list of 2025 NFL team captains, highlighting veterans, rising stars, and first-time leaders chosen through player votes.
• What You’ll Gain: Insights into how teams shape their leadership, with relatable examples of resilience, loyalty, and strategic choices that could define the 2025 season.
• Timely Updates: As of September 4, 2025, teams like the Broncos and 49ers haven’t named their captains yet—check back for updates as the season unfolds.

As a lifelong football fan who’s watched the NFL through epic Super Bowl runs and rebuilding seasons, I love when the 2025 NFL team captains are announced just before kickoff. It’s like getting a glimpse into the heart of each squad. 

With the Philadelphia Eagles facing the Dallas Cowboys to open the season, teams have finalized their 53-man rosters and let players vote on their leaders. There’s no set number of captains, so some teams go lean, others load up. 

Drawing from years of following these dynamics, I’ve compiled the 2025 NFL team captains for every team, with context on why these choices matter. Let’s break it down.

Arizona Cardinals’ Leadership Core

The Cardinals’ 2025 NFL team captains include quarterback Kyler Murray, running back James Conner, safety Budda Baker, linebackers Calais Campbell and Mack Wilson Sr., center Hjalte Froholdt, and safety Joey Blount.

Campbell’s return to Arizona after years with teams like the Jaguars feels like a veteran coming home to mentor a young crew—think of a coach rejoining his old high school team. Murray and     Baker, captains for six straight years, are steady hands, while Conner marks his fourth. Wilson, Froholdt, and Blount are first-time captains, hinting at new voices stepping up.

Atlanta Falcons’ Captain Crew

Atlanta’s 2025 NFL team captains are quarterback Michael Penix Jr., right guard Chris Lindstrom, left tackle Jake Matthews, safety Jessie Bates III, inside linebacker Kaden Elliss, and punter Bradley Pinion.

Penix, earning his first captain nod after taking over as starter last season, shows how fast a young leader can rise—like a rookie earning the game ball. Lindstrom and Matthews, repeat captains, anchor the line, with Matthews on year five. Bates, a 2023 Pro Bowler, has three years as captain. Elliss and Pinion are new additions.

Baltimore Ravens’ Flexible Approach

Under coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens pick weekly captains instead of a fixed list. It’s a dynamic strategy that keeps everyone engaged, like rotating team leads in a workplace project.

Buffalo Bills’ Lean Leadership

Buffalo’s 2025 NFL team captains are quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Terrel Bernard.

With just two captains, the Bills keep it focused. Allen, the reigning MVP, is on his seventh captaincy—reliable as a clutch fourth-quarter drive. Bernard, the defensive play-caller, repeats from last year.

Carolina Panthers’ Resilient Trio

Carolina’s captains: quarterback Bryce Young, defensive tackle Derrick Brown, and long snapper JJ Jansen.

Young’s comeback after a midseason benching last year is the stuff of NFL redemption arcs. Brown, a defensive rock, repeats, and Jansen, with 260 games, earns his third nod.

Chicago Bears’ Balanced Five

Chicago’s captains: quarterback Caleb Williams, left guard Joe Thuney, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, safety Kevin Byard, and kicker Cairo Santos.

Williams, the 2024 top pick, gets his second nod. Thuney and Jarrett debut in Chicago, Byard repeats, and Santos steps up for the first time—a balanced mix across offense, defense, and specials.

Cincinnati Bengals’ Offensive Tilt

Cincinnati’s seven captains: quarterback Joe Burrow, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, center Ted Karras, offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., defensive end Trey Hendrickson, defensive tackle B.J. Hill, and linebacker Logan Wilson.

With offense leading last season, four offensive captains make sense. Burrow, Karras, and Brown repeat; Chase debuts. Hendrickson, Hill, and Wilson are first-timers, with Hendrickson fresh off a sack-leading season.

Cleveland Browns’ Elite Picks

Cleveland’s captains: quarterback Joe Flacco, left guard Joel Bitonio, edge Myles Garrett, cornerback Denzel Ward, and punter Corey Bojorquez.

Flacco, after an improbable playoff run, pairs with Bitonio (seven-time Pro Bowler). Garrett and Ward, top at their positions, are no-brainers. Bojorquez debuts.

Dallas Cowboys’ Six Plus Weekly

Dallas’ captains: quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, safety Donovan Wilson, cornerback C.J. Goodwin, and kicker Brandon Aubrey, with a weekly rotating captain starting Week 2.

New coach Brian Schottenheimer expanded from four after voting. Prescott and Lamb lead offense; Odighizuwa and Wilson step up post-Parsons; Goodwin and Aubrey handle specials.

Denver Broncos’ Pending Update

The Broncos haven’t named their 2025 NFL team captains yet. I’ll keep you posted as news drops.

Detroit Lions’ Steady Group

Detroit’s captains: quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, right tackle Penei Sewell, edge Aidan Hutchinson, linebacker Alex Anzalone, and linebacker Grant Stuard.

Mostly repeats, with Stuard replacing a departed player. Goff and Anzalone have five years each, Sewell and St. Brown three, Hutchinson two.

Green Bay Packers’ Leadership Council

Coach Matt LaFleur mentioned a leadership council, with potential captains to come. Stay tuned.

Houston Texans’ Streamlined Five

Houston’s captains: quarterback C.J. Stroud, running back Dare Ogunbowale, wide receiver Nico Collins, defensive end Will Anderson Jr., and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.

Stroud and Anderson have three years, Al-Shaair two. Ogunbowale and Collins debut.

Indianapolis Colts’ Veteran Core

Indy’s captains: quarterback Daniel Jones, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, linebacker Zaire Franklin, cornerback Kenny Moore II, and guard Quenton Nelson.

Most are multi-year captains; Jones, new from the Giants, earned his spot with work ethic.

Jacksonville Jaguars’ Defensive Lean

Jacksonville’s captains: quarterback Trevor Lawrence, defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, punter Logan Cooke, cornerback Jourdan Lewis, and center Robert Hainsey, plus a weekly seventh.

New coach Liam Coen leans on defensive leaders like Hines-Allen and Oluokun for now.

Kansas City Chiefs’ Playoff Plan

The Chiefs save captains for playoffs. Maybe Taylor Swift gets a nod for fun?

Las Vegas Raiders’ Simple Trio

Raiders’ captains: quarterback Geno Smith, edge Maxx Crosby, and punter AJ Cole.

Smith leads offense, Crosby (five years) dominates D, and Cole (four years) handles specials.

Los Angeles Chargers’ Balanced Six

Chargers’ captains: quarterback Justin Herbert, left tackle Joe Alt, center Bradley Bozeman, linebacker Daiyan Henley, safety Derwin James Jr., and edge Khalil Mack.

Two linemen protect Herbert; James and Mack are elite; Henley debuts after leading tackles.

Los Angeles Rams’ Seven Leaders

Rams’ captains: quarterback Matthew Stafford, right tackle Rob Havenstein, running back Kyren Williams, defensive end Kobie Turner, inside linebacker Nate Landman, safety Quentin Lake, and punter Ethan Evans.

Stafford and Havenstein have four-plus years; Williams debuts. Turner, Lake, and Landman round it out.

Miami Dolphins’ Even Split

Miami’s captains: quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, center Aaron Brewer, fullback Alec Ingold, linebacker Jordyn Brooks, defensive lineman Zach Sieler, and edge Bradley Chubb.

Tagovailoa, Ingold, and Sieler repeat; others new. Tyreek Hill’s absence shows trust takes time.

Read also: How Many NFL Wild Card Teams Have Won the Super Bowl?

Minnesota Vikings’ League-High Eight

Vikings’ captains: quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Aaron Jones Sr., wide receiver Justin Jefferson, right tackle Brian O’Neill, outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, safeties Joshua Metellus and Harrison Smith, and long snapper Andrew DePaola.

Smith, O’Neill, Metellus, and Jefferson have three-plus years; others debut or repeat.

New England Patriots’ Fresh Faces

Patriots’ captains: quarterback Drake Maye, tight end Hunter Henry, linebacker Robert Spillane, cornerback Marcus Jones, edge Harold Landry III, and safety Brenden Schooler.

Henry repeats; Maye, a Pro Bowl rookie, and others bring new energy.

New Orleans Saints’ Unique Eight

Saints’ captains: wide receiver Brandin Cooks, kicker Blake Grupe, safety Justin Reid, running back Alvin Kamara, long snapper Zach Wood, linebacker Demario Davis, center/guard Erik McCoy, and defensive end Cameron Jordan.

No starting QB, but vets like Davis and Jordan dominate.

New York Giants’ Five Strong

Giants’ captains: quarterback Russell Wilson, wide receiver Darius Slayton, outside linebacker Brian Burns, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, and inside linebacker Bobby Okereke.

Okereke and Lawrence repeat; Wilson and Burns bring prior experience.

New York Jets’ New Blood

Jets’ captains: quarterback Justin Fields, right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, linebacker Jamien Sherwood, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball.

Williams repeats; others, including Fields, are new.

Read more: Ranking the Best NFL Defenses in 2025 After the Micah Parsons Trade

Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl Eight

Eagles’ captains: quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, wide receiver A.J. Brown, right tackle Lane Johnson, left tackle Jordan Mailata, linebacker Zack Baun, safety Reed Blankenship, and kicker Jake Elliott.

Barkley, post-2,000-yard season, debuts; others seasoned.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Steady Four

Steelers’ captains: quarterback Aaron Rodgers, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, edge T.J. Watt, and safety Miles Killebrew.

Heyward’s 11 years is unmatched; Rodgers brings 14 prior nods.

San Francisco 49ers’ Update Pending

The 49ers haven’t named captains yet—check back soon.

Seattle Seahawks’ Weekly Picks

Seahawks plan weekly captains, continuing last year’s approach.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Consistent Six

Bucs’ captains: quarterback Baker Mayfield, left tackle Tristan Wirfs, wide receiver Mike Evans, linebacker Lavonte David, defensive tackle Vita Vea, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.

Same as recent years—David leads with 12 straight.

Tennessee Titans’ Newcomers

Titans’ captains: quarterback Cam Ward, running back Tony Pollard, wide receiver Calvin Ridley, defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, safety Amani Hooker, linebacker Cody Barton, and long snapper Morgan Cox.

Simmons and Cox repeat; Ward and others debut.

Washington Commanders’ Weekly Strategy

Commanders likely stick to weekly captains.

These 2025 NFL team captains reflect the heart of each franchise—vets like Heyward, young stars like Ward, and comeback stories like Young. They’re the glue for playoff hopes or rebuilds. As you prep for fantasy drafts or game-day watch parties, watch how these leaders shape the season. Here’s to a thrilling 2025!