The Atlanta Falcons have selected who will be the team captains, and they are:
-Quarterback Kirk Cousins
-OT Jake Matthews
-DT Grady Jarrett
-S Jesse Bates III
These four will wear the captain badge (a “C” with four stars under it) on their respective jerseys this season, starting with the September 8 game at Mercedes Benz Stadium against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Jarrett, Bates, and Matthews are in their second consecutive year as Falcons captains. Cousins is a nine-year captain, but not for the Falcons. This is Jarrett’s sixth, Mathews’ fourth, and Bates second season in this team role.
According to Wikipedia, the team captain is “a team-appointed position that designates certain players as leaders on and off the field. The captains program was implemented by the NFL Player Advisory Council established by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in conjunction with the NFL Players Association. Starting in 2007, the league began permitting teams to name up to six players as captains.”
Besides being team leaders on and off the field, Team captains have active roles in coin toss procedures (which team kicks and receives the ball at kickoff, or starts first in overtime), and choice on penalty options.
Photo credit: Atlanta Falcons