Jets name 6 brand new team captains (with 2 surprises) entering 2026

In today's day and age in the NFL, it feels like some teams are comfortable naming as many players as they possibly can as their team captains. Take the Los Angeles Rams, for example, who announced 11 different players to wear the "C" patch in 2026.

Well, it's good to know that the New York Jets are sticking with the rule of six heading into 2026, and they named all new captains heading into the upcoming regular season.

Guard Joe Tippmann and quarterback Geno Smith are the captains of the offense, while Harrison Phillips, Demario Davis, and Minkah Fitzpatrick were named the leaders of the defense. Isaiah Williams received the nod as well as the captain of the special teams unit.

There are very few surprises among the Jets' announced captains, aside from maybe Tippmann and Williams. Everyone and their mother knew Smith, Phillips, and Davis would be donning the "C" the minute the offseason began.

But it also feels notable that there are no repeat captains from last season, including one important offensive player.

New York Jets name all new captains ahead of 2026 season

Ahead of 2025, the Jets named quarterback Justin Fields, wide receiver Garrett Wilson, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, linebacker Jamien Sherwood, and special teamer Marcelino McCrary-Ball.

Fields and Williams are no longer with the team, obviously, and weren't exactly great captains to begin with either. Fields folded at the first sign of adversity as starting quarterback and refused to even play a limited role on offense late in the season, and Williams had reportedly been looking for a trade all summer.

Sherwood, despite earning a major payday before the 2025 season, didn't live up to the expectations set for him in the offseason. He was even benched at one point during the season. Hopefully, he'll have a bit of a bounce-back with less responsibility on his plate in 2026.

The real eye-raiser is Wilson not being named captain. How will he take that after having a leadership role last season? Is it going to bother him as the season goes on?

Hopefully not. Besides, just about every other captain the Jets have named is more than deserving of the role. Phillips, Davis, Fitzpatrick, and Smith all have a lot of football under their belt, and have been a part of incredibly successful football teams.

Their veteran leadership should only help the team succeed as they embark on the journey that is the 2026 season.

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