Tag: Team Captain

Broncos QB Bo Nix had a great quote on leadership

“I haven’t really proven anything, so I just have to go out there and work,” Bo Nix said. “I’m not talking all the time just to talk.”

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix was elected as a team captain by his peers this summer, and it’s easy to see why.

Nix is not a rah-rah leader, opting to lead more by example, but his style fits him because it’s genuine. After Wednesday’s practice, Nix was asked about his leadership style and rookie quarterback recalled a time when his middle school football coach encouraged him to be more of a leader.

“I remember asking him, ‘What kind of leader do you want me to be?’” Nix recalled. “There are several [types]. I think the leadership thing, it’s very broad. It goes very deep. I think when there’s a leadership opportunity on your team, it’s important to provide it. If that’s leading by action, if that’s showing up first or if that’s getting out here to the field early, or staying late, or going through an extra play. Whatever that means by action. Or is it verbal? Do the guys need some verbal cues to get them going? Do they need some ‘Hoo-rah’ speeches? That sometimes can be good. Sometimes it can also just be noise.

“I think there’s service leadership. I think you can pick up the field for the guys, or run an errand for somebody. I think there are a lot of forms of leadership. I think the best leaders understand that there are multiple styles, they do those styles well and they have a good eye for those individual needs. I was told long ago when there’s a leadership opportunity, you just provide it no matter what it looks like. But in order to be a leader, you have to have followers. It’s important to have the trust of the guys around you. Anybody can be a leader.”

Nix has quickly emerged as a key leader on the team despite being a rookie, but he’s been calculated in his approach as the second-youngest team captain on the squad (cornerback Pat Surtain is two months younger).

“My role right now is simply: I have to go out there and perform on Sundays so that I can help these guys win games and keep these guys going,” Nix said. “That’s my job as a quarterback for them right now. You have to honestly take the rookie out of it — it doesn’t matter. They’re looking at you like a starting quarterback in the league, so I just have to treat it that way. Right now being young, I can’t talk a whole lot. There’s not much I can say. I haven’t really proven anything, so I just have to go out there and work. They want to see the work, and they want to see how hard I’m preparing and what I’m doing off the field. Do I show up the same every day? I think when they see that, they have a form of respect and trust. Then they know when you go out there and make a few plays, then they believe in you, and they know they can trust you in critical moments. It’s just all about doing it right now.

“I know it’s a young stage in my career, so when there’s a time to speak up and say something, that’s usually when you can gain their attention because you [use] your words wisely. I’m not talking all the time just to talk. So sometimes, like I said, that talk just is noise. Guys hear so much noise already that they don’t want to hear it from me. It’s all about putting my head down and working hard, and I think they respect that.”

The method has worked. Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, who is five years older than Nix, said players gravitate to the quarterback.

“The way that he prepares, he almost gives off a vibe of… I can show you, but then I can tell you in the sense of he might not be the ‘rah rah’ loud guy, but he knows how to get guys going in his own way,” Sutton said. “Speaking for myself and just how it seems around the locker room, guys are gravitating to it. He continues to show up week-in and week-out prepared, ready to go, has that fire and has that juice when he plays. I think just the way that he goes about his business is a big part of his leadership style.”

Nix, 24, has completed 63.8% of his passes for 2,842 passing yards this season while adding 304 yards on the ground and scoring 22 total touchdowns. He’ll look to build on his productive season when Denver hosts the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.

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Courtland Sutton received the most votes as team captain

Courtland Sutton has been voted a team captain in four consecutive seasons. “It’s something that I treasure, and I hold dear to my heart.”

The Denver Broncos named their 2024 team captains on Wednesday and quarterback Bo Nix made history as the team’s first rookie captain since 1967, but that shouldn’t overshadow another impressive feat.

Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton was elected a captain for a fourth straight season, and he was the most popular choice.

“Any young team, you’re still counting on experience and leadership,” coach Sean Payton said. “He’s one of those guys that I think he ended up with the most votes. I wouldn’t say it’s just because of his experience. I would say it’s because of his personality. It’s because of how he works.

“There are so many other traits. Years in the league I don’t think equates necessarily to being a good captain. I think there’s more to in than that, and I think that’s the way that his teammates looked at it.”

Now entering his seventh season in the NFL, Sutton will remain a key leader for Denver this fall.

“I told the guys at the dinner how grateful I was and how much of an honor it was,” Sutton said of being named captain yet again. “I don’t say that lightly. To be able to get voted on by your peers as a captain of a team and for guys to chose to the leader, it’s something that I treasure, and I hold dear to my heart. I appreciate the guys.

“They know that they’re going to get my best every day when we come out here for practice, meetings, the game or whatever it may be. I’m going to everything I can to make sure that I’m putting myself in a position to be successful and hopefully helping the guys be successful as well.”

In addition to Sutton and Nix, guard Quinn Meinerz, linebacker Alex Singleton, kicker Wil Lutz and cornerback Pat Surtain were also named captains.

“It means a lot,” Surtain said. “It’s a testament to how my teammates think of me as an individual. I’m ready to take on that captain role, and I’m looking forward to this year. Obviously, it’s my first year being a captain. I don’t take that role very lightly. It’s a huge honor for me to be able to lead such a great team moving forward towards the season. I’m honestly very grateful for it, and I can’t wait for the year to start.”

Nix, of course, is the big story.

“I’m not going to take it for granted,” the rookie said. “I have to come into work every single day and just prove that you can be a captain. I’m excited to work with these other guys, and I think it’s good that we can get out there and set the tone. It’s always good to be a captain.”

Nix will make his NFL debut when the Broncos go on the road to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 8.

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Broncos name team captains, and rookie QB Bo Nix makes history

Bo Nix is the Broncos’ first rookie to be named a team captain since Hall of Fame RB Floyd Little in 1967.

The Denver Broncos have named their six team captains for the 2024 NFL season, coach Sean Payton announced Wednesday.

On offense, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, guard Quinn Meinerz and rookie quarterback Bo Nix got the nod. On defense, cornerback Pat Surtain and inside linebacker Alex Singleton were named captains. Kicker Wil Lutz will serve as the special teams captain. The captains were elected by teammates this week.

Nix makes history as the team’s first rookie team captain since Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little in 1967. This will also mark the first time Payton has had a rookie captain on his team.

Denver’s team captains last year were Sutton, quarterback Russell Wilson, offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey, safeties Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson and punter Riley Dixon. Wilson, Simmons and Jackson are no longer on the team.

Two years ago, the team’s captains were Wilson, Sutton, Simmons, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and kicker Brandon McManus. Of the team’s 2022 team captains, Sutton is the only one who remains on the team.

This fall will mark Sutton’s fourth straight season as a team captain.

The Broncos are preparing for a Week 1 showdown with the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8. Denver is considered a 5.5-point road undergoing going into Sunday’s game in Seattle.

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Doug Pederson: Andrew Wingard’s captainship ‘speaks volumes’

Doug Pederson raved about the growth of first-time team captain Andrew Wingard.

It wasn’t long ago that Andrew “Dewey” Wingard was a relatively unpopular player among Jacksonville Jaguars fans.

The 2019 undrafted signee worked his way into the Jaguars’ defensive lineup and was a full-time starter in 2021, despite the team drafting Andre Cisco in the third round earlier that year. He struggled, at times, in that role, but found much more success in 2022 as a core special teamer and a rotational player in the secondary.

Now Wingard is a fan favorite, due in part to his resurgent season last year, but especially because of his enthusiasm and energy. He’s also set to be a team captain in 2023 after his Jaguars teammates voted him as the leader of the special teams unit.

“It speaks volumes for him, personally,” Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters Wednesday. “He’s been with this team through the early days and not so good days. Now, to being a captain, it just shows his growth and his maturity and where he’s come as a player with this team.

“You see it every year, there’s always those one or two guys that just emerge as leaders. Whether they’re voted captains or not, they’re still great men and great leaders of your football team. Dewey has done some really good things to be in this position, he’s worked hard, he’s excited for himself, he’s excited for our team and this season. I’m excited for him as a captain of our team.”

Wingard, 26, received a 79.9 defensive grade from PFF last season, fourth highest on the team among players who played more than two snaps per game. He also had a 72.5 grade on special teams.

In four NFL seasons, Wingard has four interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and seven tackles for loss.

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Broncos announce team captains for 2023 season

Broncos team captains: QB Russell Wilson, WR Courtland Sutton, RT Mike McGlinchey, DB Kareem Jackson, DB Justin Simmons and P Riley Dixon.

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton has announced the club’s team captains for the 2023 NFL season.

Quarterback Russell Wilson (offense), wide receiver Courtland Sutton (offense), right tackle Mike McGlinchey (offense), safeties Kareem Jackson (defense) and Justin Simmons (defense) and punter Riley Dixon (special teams) were named team captains on Wednesday.

Broncos players elected this year’s captains.

“We won’t usually have the rookies vote; we’ll have the veterans [vote],” Payton said last week. “The players will vote on offense, defense, and special teams, and we’ll kind of go from there. Typically, each week, we might have a guest captain — number six — that moves around.”

Last year, players elected Wilson, Sutton, Simmons, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and kicker Brandon McManus as team captains. Chubb and McManus are no longer with the team.

Denver’s captains will lead the team against the Las Vegas Raiders when the Broncos host their division rival in Week 1 on Sept. 10.

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Vikings Josh Metellus voted by peers as 9th team captain

The third-year safety was bestowed the honor by his teammates

It’s standard for NFL teams to name season-long captains for their teams, and the Minnesota Vikings were no different. Before Week 1 of the NFL season, the Vikings named eight players as captains for their 2022 campaign.

  • Quarterback Kirk Cousins
  • Runningback Dalvin Cook
  • Wide reciever Adam Thielen
  • Right tackle Brian O’Neill
  • Middle linebacker Eric Kendricks
  • Cornerback Patrick Peterson
  • Saftey Harrison Smith
  • Fullback C.J. Ham

These players are voted on by their peers in the locker room, so it’s a high honor to be named team captain. Unfortunately, O’Neill suffered a partially torn Achilles in Week 17 against the Green Bay Packers which ended his season. Since O’Neill would not be playing again in 2022, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell took this opportunity to name another captain.

In his weekly press conference with the media on Monday, O’Connell announced that safety and special teams player Josh Metellus would be the ninth captain for the Vikings for the remainder of this season. O’Connell said he had spoken to O’Neill prior to naming Metellus captain, and O’Neill was “fired up” about it.

“First and foremost, I checked in with Brian to make sure he thought it was a great idea and he was fired up about it and even as he finished saying that he said ‘It should be Josh Metellus.’ That was a nice foreshadowing to the overwhelming number of votes he got. Josh got a lot of votes to be a captain at the beginning of the year.

As I mentioned to you guys, 22 players received votes to be a captain and Josh was right there and then what he has done throughout the season. Just his role on special teams and being one of the premier special teams players in the league, but also when he’s gotten the chance to go out there on defense like he did yesterday, incredibly consistent, smart player and you feel his physicality and his ability to tackle. Made a couple of nice plays on the ball when it was in the air yesterday. Not a surprise to me. He’s been A-plus for me all season from a standpoint of just his role, but also his ability to lead our group has been huge.”

Metellus has a good reputation in the locker room with his peers and was one of the players who received votes to become team captain prior to the start of the season. Metellus put together a strong showing for the Vikings on special teams and defense as the season progressed. He had two blocked punts in back-to-back weeks and a game-winning interception in Week 3 against the Detroit Lions.

Broncos WR Courtland Sutton has a great leadership style

Courtland Sutton doesn’t berate teammates for mistakes. “They know what they need to do. Go encourage them and move onto the next play.”

Denver Broncos wide receiver was elected a team captain by his teammates last week, and judging from his leadership style, it’s easy to see why.

Sutton doesn’t berate his teammates for making mistakes. Instead, he encourages them to bounce back, and that mentally has been well-received.

“My leadership style comes from how I feel like I like to be led,” Sutton said on Sept. 6. “I try to bring that with me. If guys have a bad play or something, you can see them being in their own head. [I’ll] just pull them to the side and say, ‘Hey look, you got this. We’ve seen you do this a thousand times. Just go out there and do what you do best.’ I feel like it can help clear up guys’ mental space. That’s where a lot of the game is—it’s played mentally. If you make a bad play and you’re not able to one snap, clear it and move onto the next one, then that play can beat you again.

“It doesn’t take someone to go over there and yell at them, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t have done that!’ They know they shouldn’t have done that. They know what they need to do. Go encourage them and move onto the next play. I feel like you’ll be able to see more success from that [rather] than going at them, yelling at them, and berating them in front of everybody.”

Sutton has also said that he aims to lead primarily by example, setting a standard that other players can follow.

Entering his fifth season in the NFL, Sutton will aim to emerge as a key player and leader for the Broncos both on and off the field in 2022.

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Bradley Chubb aims to follow Von Miller’s example as team captain

“He was always the prime example of how you want an older guy to treat the younger guys,” Chubb said of Miller. “I just try to follow that.”

The Denver Broncos announced their team captains for the 2022 season earlier this week and outside linebacker Bradley Chubb is among them.

Chubb is following in the footsteps of ex-Broncos captain Von Miller, who helped mentor Chubb and the team’s other younger pass rushers during his time in Denver. Chubb will now aim to follow Miller’s example.

“I learned a lot from him,” Chubb said Tuesday. “[He’s] a guy who has seen the peak of Super Bowl success and [being a] Super Bowl MVP. Even him — he was the same guy on the practice field every day. You knew what you were going to get from him.

“He was always a teammate-first guy and I feel like the things he did — inviting people to his house or giving someone the shirt off his back — he was always the prime example of how you want an older guy to treat the younger guys. I just try to follow that.”

Miller was traded to the Los Angeles Rams mid-season last year and he now plays for the Buffalo Bills, but he’ll always be a Broncos legend. Chubb’s on-field production might not ever reach Miller’s level, but he could certainly emerge as a similar leader on and off the field for Denver’s defense.

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Broncos’ team captains will lead by example this season

“I’ll show you more than I’ll tell you,” Broncos WR Courtland Sutton said of his leadership style.

Denver Broncos players elected five team captains for the 2022 NFL season this week: quarterback Russell Wilson, wide receiver Courtland Sutton, safety Justin Simmons, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and kicker Brandon McManus.

“I think those guys are all really good players,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said Tuesday. “Not only are they really good players, but they’re really good leaders, and they are great people. So I think those things all take into account for it, and there are guys that have been here and done some really good things and we are looking for great things from them.”

Not all of those players have the exact same leadership style, but they will all aim to lead by example this season. Sutton will let his actions do most of his talking.

“I’ll show you more than I’ll tell you,” the receiver said. “You probably won’t hear me as much, but I try to lead by example and try to show the guys what the right way [is]. I’ll take guys off to the side and talk to them. I’m not a big ‘hurrah’ type, I guess. Sometimes I am — you guys see me — but a lot of the time, I take a guy off to the side if they look a little confused or something.

“Take them off to the side, talk to them and help them understand because I feel like that’s the best way to be able to learn. I try to do that for the young guys and anybody else who needs advice or help with whatever is going on.”

Wilson, Sutton, Chubb, Simmons and McManus will be the team’s key leaders both on and off the field this fall, aiming to set an example of a winning mentality to all of their teammates.

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Russell Wilson among Broncos’ 5 team captains for 2022 season

Broncos team captains for 2022: Russell Wilson, Courtland Sutton, Justin Simmons, Bradley Chubb and Brandon McManus.

No surprise — Russell Wilson is among the Denver Broncos’ five team captains for the 2022 NFL season, the team announced Tuesday.

The team’s captains were voted on by players, with Wilson joined by wide receiver Courtland Sutton as an offensive captain.

On defense, safety Justin Simmons and outside linebacker Bradley Chubb were also voted captains. And on special teams, kicker Brandon McManus will serve as the team’s fifth captain.

Sutton, Simmons and McManus are returning captains. Last year, that trio was joined by ex-quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (offense), ex-outside linebacker Von Miller (defense) and safety Kareem Jackson as the team’s six captains in 2021.

Wilson, Sutton, Simmons, Chubb and McManus will now lead Denver into the 2022 season, starting with a Monday Night Football showdown with the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 12. That contest will mark Wilson’s first return to Seattle after he was traded to the Broncos earlier this offseason.

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