Zaire Franklin, who only joined the Green Bay Packers via trade in March, has already been named one of their team captains. Talk about making an instant impact! This dude didn’t even wait for a full offseason to prove he’s a leader.
He’s Done This Before
Seriously, anyone who knows Franklin probably isn’t shocked. The man has “leadership” tattooed on his forehead metaphorically. He was a team captain for the Colts in each of the last six seasons, so this isn’t some new role for him. Some players just exude that kind of presence, and it’s clear Franklin is absolutely one of ’em. He walks in, takes charge, and the team recognizes it.
New Faces, Missing Pieces
The Packers didn’t just name Franklin, though. They’ve got a total of five captains this year. Quarterback Jordan Love, tight end Tucker Kraft, safety Xavier McKinney, and special teamer Isaiah McDuffie are all back as repeat captains from 2025. But get this: three players who wore the ‘C’ last year are gone from that list. Rashan Gary and Quay Walker are no longer with Green Bay. And then there’s Josh Jacobs, who’s currently on the commissioner’s exempt list as an investigation unfolds into an accusation of violence against a woman. That’s a pretty heavy situation, and it leaves some serious voids.
With Franklin stepping up so quickly, and a couple of key leaders from last year no longer in the picture, this is a massive shift for the Packers’ locker room dynamic. It’s early in the season, but who’s wearing that ‘C’ matters, and this crew has some serious shoes to fill and new ones to break in.
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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