The Denver Broncos elected their captains ahead of their 2026 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 14. Players selected nine captains this season: two special-teamers, four defensive players and three offensive players.
It is the largest captaincy class of coach Sean Payton's career.
“Yes, I’d probably say eight or nine," Payton said when asked if it's the most captains he'd had on a team. "It would probably be on the high end, and I don’t think that’s unusual right now [in the NFL]."
Payton isn't wrong: there has been a trend of a high number of captains among teams this year. The Los Angeles Rams have a league-high 11 captains, while at least two teams (Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns) will not have any set captains, but
a rotating set of captains throughout the year.
Quarterback Bo Nix also commented on the large number of captains for the Broncos.
"I think it’s really good when you have a lot of leadership," Nix said on Wednesday. "That means you have guys that have been around, know the culture, know how to operate at a high level and know how to win games. That was really the theme of us as captains, it’s like, ‘We’ve been here. We know what it’s going to take. Now we don’t have anything else to do. We just have to go out here and win and compete at a high level.’ We have really good leadership to do that.”
Nix was named a captain for the third time in his three-year career on Wednesday, and he spoke about the trust and honor it is to be named a leader on the team.
"It’s an honor to be a captain on our team because it’s voted by the players," Nix said. "It’s a special honor when your peers and teammates vote you to be one of the leaders of our team. We have several leaders and to be named one… It’s a great responsibility, and with that comes a lot of opportunity but also it’s a big weight to carry. It’s not something to be thrown around lightly."
Speaking on his own leadership style, Nix believes he has evolved over the past three years since being the 12th overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.
"My leadership style has evolved as I’ve gotten older because I’ve experienced more and understood what it’s like to essentially get someone to follow you," Nix said. "That’s what a leader is. I’ve gone from an action-based leader when I first got here because, honestly, I was just trying to swim, and not drown, and do my role and do my part on the team while also leading by action. I feel like now I can sort of lead a little bit more vocally because I’m a little more aware and have a few more things under my belt that I can fall back on.”
2026 team captain Bo Nix feels comfortable leading more vocally now 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/G8ilKhq3Jw
— KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM (@KOAColorado) September 9, 2026
Kicker Wil Lutz and wide receiver Courtland Sutton were also named captains, and spoke on the trust their teammates have placed in them.
🗣️Wil Lutz on being named a captain this season:
— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) September 9, 2026
"When you're voted as a captain by the guys that you come to work with everyday...I think that's the ultimate sign of respect. I don't take it lightly. #broncoscountry pic.twitter.com/yBBXODNjy8
🗣️Courtland Sutton on being named a captain this season:
— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) September 9, 2026
"I just have a lot of gratitude and thankfulness...that comes from being named captain for another season."#broncoscountry pic.twitter.com/jg3oLuMtdy
The leadership of the team speaks volumes. All these players play important roles on the team, and to be frank, there could have been several more deserving captains on this team. Let's hope the Broncos captains can be as impactful this season as their titles say.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Broncos players react to ‘special honor’ of being elected team captains
