TheNew York Jets have spent the past eight months and counting reshaping their roster. The initial 53-man roster has been introduced, but one thing Aaron Glenn has emphasized since arriving as head coach is that talent alone won't change the trajectory of a franchise coming off a 3-14 season.
Leadership matters, too. That reality was reinforced this week when the Jets announced six team captains for the 2026 season: Geno Smith, Joe Tippmann, Harrison Phillips, Demario Davis, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Isaiah Williams.
Teammates made their selections, and that offers a glimpse into the voices that will help lead the locker room this fall. For Davis, the honor carried special meaning because it came from the players who share the field with him every
day.
"To have the respect of those guys... to be with a band of brothers... it's incredible. We have a whole string of guys who are leaders," Davis said.
Demario Davis was thrilled to be named a captain with the Jets:
— SNY Jets (@snyjets) September 3, 2026
"To have the respect of those guys...to be with a band of brothers...it's incredible. We have a whole string of guys who are leaders." pic.twitter.com/KyjCT1qhjH
Phillips echoed a similar sentiment when discussing what being named a captain means to him.
"It means a lot to me because of the people I play with and the people that voted for this," Phillips said.
The comments speak to something Glenn has stressed throughout training camp: leadership is not confined to one or two players. It is expected throughout the roster.
The Jets will ultimately be judged by wins and losses, but the captain selections suggest the foundation Glenn wanted to establish is taking shape. Now comes the difficult part, proving that leadership can translate into results once the regular season begins.
Jets Wire will continue to find updates throughout the 2026 NFL season.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets' Demario Davis, Harrison Phillips share their appreciation after being named team captains
