Denver Broncos new coach Nathaniel Hackett announced Tuesday the names of the team’s captains for the 2022 season. They were quarterback Russell Wilson, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, safety Justin Simmons, and Brandon McManus.
The five players were named captains after winning a majority vote. Hackett said many players on the offensive line also earned a lot of votes.
“I think it’s great to see so many people that believe in their teammates. It wasn’t just a specific amount of guys,’ Hackett said.
That said, left tackle Garett Bolles, who has served the team for five years, was not given the role. Veteran safety Kareem Jackson was also not given the helm. Serving as one of the captains last year, the 34-year-old is entering the 13th year of his NFL career.
Other names who were not included in the conversation despite being fan favorites are Lloyd Cushenberry III, Dalton Risner, Graham Glasgow, Billy Turner, inside linebacker Josey Jewell, and defensive linemen Dre’Mont Jones and D.J. Jones.
Captaining Broncos
Previously, during the reign of head coach Vic Fangio, players took turns leading the team as captains. In 2021, however, he started appointing fixed names to captain for the season. Sutton, Simmons, and McManus will resume their duties after serving as skippers under Fangio last year.
“For it to come from your peers, your teammates, guys that you grind with every day. (They) see the things we do on the field, off the field, trying to carry the team in the right direction. It’s an honor,” Sutton said.
Meanwhile, for Wilson, it will be his first time leading the Broncos. Similarly, this season marks Chubb’s maiden captaincy in the NFL. He previously served as a captain in college twice.
“It’s kind of like a title,” said Chubb. “All the hard work, all the type of leadership I’ve been trying to instill so it’s a great accomplishment to be looked at by your peers so got to wear it with pride.”
Hackett’s opinion on new captains
Praising the five captains, Hackett said, “I think all those guys are really good players.”
“Not only are they really good players, they’re really good leaders and they’re great people,” Hackett said on the Broncos website. “They’re guys that have been here and done some really good things, and we’re looking for great things from them.”
Under the new captains, the Broncos will look to win their Week 1 game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, Seattle, on Monday night. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN and ABC.
Hackett said the Seahawks’ strong defense would prove problematic for his squad. He said he was concerned with Seattle safety Jamal Adams. Another thing the first-year head coach was worried about was the crowd factor at Lumen Field. Seattle is known for using music as part of its mind game—utilizing its supporters to demoralize its opponents.
“Obviously, turn it up as loud as we possibly can,” Hackett said. “We know it’s one of the loudest stadiums—that and Arrowhead (Stadium in Kansas City) from my experience have been the two loudest. So we have to do whatever we can to make it so no one can hear. So bring your earplugs.”