Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton met with the media today and annouced that they have named a total of 9 team captains. These captains were voted on by the players and feature veterans and leaders from the offense, defense, and special teams.
The Broncos 9 team captains are quarterback Bo Nix, cornerback Bo Nix, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, guard Quinn Meinerz, cornerback Pat Surtain II, linebacker Alex Singleton, nose tackle DJ Jones, safety Talanoa Hufanga, safety/special teamer Devon Key,
and kicker Wil Lutz.
The Broncos have a strong veteran unit that could feature even more team captains, but the players chose these nine players to represent them as captains for the 2026 season.
QB Bo Nix – Nix is the Broncos franchise quarterback and is a leader on and off the field. He has been named a team captain all three seasons of his career and clearly has earned the respect of the players. We see his passion and intensity on the field and that same passion and intensity is felt off the field. He’s a true leader and a true franchise quarterback.
CB Pat Surtain II – PS2 is an elite player and leads by example. He isn’t known for being a big talker, giving passionate speeches and all that, but for the way he carries himself on and off the field. The former Defensive Player of the Year will once again lead by example and be an elite player on and off the field for the Broncos.
WR Courtland Sutton – Sutton is one of the longest tenured Broncos on the team right now (Outside of Bolles, I believe he’s the longest) and provides veteran leadership on and off the field. This is the 6th time that Sutton has been named a captain by the Broncos players.
G Quinn Meinerz – The All-Pro guard is one of the best offensive lineman in the entire NFL and is once again, named a team captain by the Broncos players. He is the lone offensive lineman named here and has taken over a key leadership role in that group.
LB Alex Singleton – Singleton is beloved by the Broncos players and coaches. He’s the green dot wearer on the field and a truly inspirational leader on and off the field. We saw that strength last season when he battled through a cancer diagnosis, beat cancer, and returned to the field without missing much time at all. He has the respect of the Broncos players and coaches and will be a inspirational leader once again for the Broncos top-ranked defense.
NT DJ Jones – Jones is the anchor of the Denver Broncos defense and the leader of the Broncos talented defensive line. He has been part of the Broncos since 2022 and this will be his 10th season in the NFL. Jones provides a valuable veteran and leadership presence in the middle of the Broncos defense.
S Talanoa Hufanga – You want that fire and intensity? Hufanga brings that on and off the field. He gives intense and inspirational pre-game speeches, plays with his hair on fire, and is the heart and soul of the Broncos defense. He joined the team last season and quickly became a key part of the defense and the teams success.
S/STer Devon Key – Key is a great story. He was viewed as a fringe roster player and someone most fans overlooked or didn’t want on the team. However, Key continued to improve and turned himself into an All-Pro special teams player. He earned the respect around the league, and now, from his teammates. A year later, Key is an All-Pro special teamer, a leader of the Broncos special teams unit, and now, a first-time team captain.
K Wil Lutz – Lutz was brought over from New Orleans to Denver during Payton’s first season to help change the losing culture that developed with the Broncos. We have seen the results on and off the field with this culture change that Lutz helped build. He also has become one of the more reliable and clutch kickers in the NFL and will look to do the same this season.
