The New Orleans Saints have named nine 2026 team captains, including both some familiar faces and new honorees.
Team captains are charged with upholding the team’s standard and culture while being the go-to representatives for the organization. The captains group was pivotal in 2025 as the team began the season with an expectedly rough start before the upswing struck down the stretch of the season.
The Saints will have a collection of first-time captains and veteran captains this season. Here are the players that were announced by the team:
Offense
- QB Tyler Shough
- C Erik McCoy
- G David Edwards
Shough is a first-time captain for the team, as he continues to deepen his roots with the franchise as its starting quarterback and standard-bearer. Edwards received captainship in his first year with the Saints and will wear the captain badge for the first time in his career in the process.
McCoy returns for his fourth season as a captain in New Orleans, a mainstay for the team’s culture and leadership.
Defense
- EDGE Cameron Jordan
- S Justin Reid
- EDGE Chase Young
- LB Kaden Elliss
Jordan is embarking upon his 12th season as a team captain in what is expected to be his final year with the team. Reid becomes a captain in New Orleans for the second consecutive season since joining the team. Meanwhile, Young and Elliss will be captains for the first time in the black and gold, but have been captains with their previous teams.
Special Teams
- LS Zach Wood
- LB Chris Rumph II
Wood also enters his fourth season as a team captain along with McCoy. He has been a special teams captain through a number of iterations for the group and has been a consistent presence for the team. Rumph is becoming a captain for the first time in his second season with New Orleans. In 2025, he was second on the team in special teams tackles and has been a long term disciple of Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley.
