The Arizona Cardinals are kicking off their 2026 regular season this week, and the locker room has already spoken loud and clear. Head coach Mike LaFleur just dropped the news that the players themselves have voted in five guys as team captains for the upcoming season. This isn’t some coach’s pick, this is the team saying, “These are our leaders, full stop.” You gotta love it when the players have that much say in who wears the “C,” and the choices definitely tell a story about what kind of squad they’re building. It’s all about trust and respect when your peers put you in charge.
New Faces and Established Grind
The Cardinals have gone with five captains in total: two on offense, two on defense, and one for special teams. On offense, we’ve got quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who’s stepping into a captain role for the very first time. That’s huge! For a QB to get that vote of confidence from his teammates, especially at the start of a season, it shows they trust him to lead the huddle and rally the guys. He’s not just running the plays, he’s running the leadership. Alongside him on offense is center Hjalte Froholdt, who’s snagging the captaincy for the second straight year. That’s consistency right there, a guy the trenches can rely on year in and year out.
On the defensive side, linebacker Mack Wilson also got the nod for his second straight season. A linebacker being a captain is like having an extra coach on the field, demanding effort and setting the tone. But the really wild part? Long snapper Casey Kreiter is a captain in his first year with the team. Think about that for a second. You walk into a new locker room, and before you’ve even played a down, your new teammates are like, “Yeah, this guy. This guy’s a leader.” That speaks volumes about his character and the immediate respect he’s earned from the get-go.
The Undisputed General of That Defense
Then there’s the absolute legend: safety Budda Baker. The guy has been named a captain for his *seventh straight season*. Seven straight! In today’s NFL, with all the roster turnover and player movement, that kind of sustained leadership is almost unheard of. It tells you everything you need to know about who the undisputed heart and soul of that Cardinals defense is. He’s not just a playmaker; he’s the ultimate locker room leader, the guy everyone looks to when things get tough. When a player commands that level of respect for that long, it’s a testament to his dedication, his performance, and his unwavering commitment to his teammates. He sets the standard, plain and simple.
Coach LaFleur summed it up perfectly when he told reporters, “Whether you’re a captain or not a captain you be who you are within your own personality. However, when you do get voted captain obviously, that’s kind of saying that the locker room looks up to you.” He’s not wrong! This isn’t just about a title; it’s a statement from the players themselves. LaFleur went on, saying, “I can’t think of five better people to look up to in terms of just guys that are going to keep it real with each other, hold people to standards and communicate with me.” That’s the kind of honest, accountable leadership every team dreams of. These five guys aren’t just wearing a “C,” they’re setting the tone for what the Cardinals are going to be all about this season. The regular season starts this week, and with these leaders in place, you know they’re ready to get after it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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