Jacoby Brissett, in his *first season* as the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, just got named one of the team’s five captains for the season. Talk about a statement! This isn’t just a coach’s pick, either. The team announced these results Monday, coming from a full players’ vote held on Thursday. When your teammates trust you that much from day one in the huddle, you know it’s real, and it instantly changes the vibe for that locker room.
The Locker Room Has Spoken
This captaincy group isn’t messing around, and the players clearly picked guys they truly believe in. Alongside Brissett on offense, center Hjalte Froholdt also got the nod. On defense, you’ve got the absolute staple, safety Budda Baker, who’s now rocking the captain’s patch for his *fifth consecutive season*. That’s insane consistency right there! Linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. joins Baker, and long snapper Casey Kreiter is repping the special teams. Froholdt and Wilson are repeat captains from last year, showing the players are sticking with proven leaders. It’s a mix of a brand-new starter getting immediate respect and veterans who have clearly earned their stripes year after year. This isn’t a popularity contest; it’s about who commands the room when it counts.
Setting the Standard
Coach Mike LaFleur didn’t mince words about what these captains mean. He told Darren Urban of the team website, “When you do get voted a captain, that says your teammates and the locker room looks up to you.” That’s the key right there, isn’t it? It’s not about who the coach *thinks* should lead; it’s about who the *players* actually follow. LaFleur sees these five as the embodiment of leadership for his squad. He said, “I can’t think of five better people to look up to, in terms of guys who will keep it real with each other, hold people to standards, communicate with me.” He needs guys who are going to be straight shooters, who demand excellence from everyone, and who keep him in the loop without needing to babysit. LaFleur even mentioned that “quite a few guys who I won’t mention were right up there in the running for it,” which means the Cardinals have a deep leadership pool, but these five clearly stood out from the pack. It speaks volumes about the culture they’re trying to build in Arizona.
So, as the Cardinals gear up for the season, these five captains, led by a first-year starting QB in Brissett, are the ones setting the tone. What does it mean for their upcoming games? Everything! When your locker room chooses these guys to keep it real and hold everyone accountable, you know they’re looking to establish a serious winning foundation. It’s going to be wild to watch how this leadership group guides them through the ups and downs of a full season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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