Eagles Announce Seven Captains With No Special Teams Representation

PUBLISHED Sep 4, 2026, 8:05 PM ET

The Philadelphia Eagles announced their seven team captains for the upcoming National Football League season on Friday, notably omitting any player from the special teams unit. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, wide receiver DeVonta Smith, offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, linebacker Zack Baun, and defensive tackle Jordan Davis were selected to lead the squad. This configuration marks a reduction from the eight captains named for the previous season. Most significantly, veteran kicker Jake Elliott, who wore the captain patch representing special teams for four consecutive years, did not retain his leadership role following a challenging prior season where his conversion rate dipped below eighty percent. While many professional football franchises traditionally designate at least one special teams leader, teams occasionally forgo this to protect specialists from extra game day obligations. Head coach Nick Sirianni and the organization finalized the leadership group ahead of their opening match.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News

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