Buccaneers Announce Six Team Captains for 2026 Season

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially selected their team captains for the 2026 season. The players held their annual vote Monday morning, selecting six leaders to represent the team.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield, tackle Tristan Wirfs, wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr., nose tackle Vita Vea, linebacker Alex Anzalone and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. earned the honor. Four of those six players also served as captains for Tampa Bay last season.

Four Familiar Leaders Return

Mayfield, Wirfs, Vea and Winfield will continue their leadership roles with the Buccaneers. Their returning presence gives Tampa Bay plenty of continuity heading into the new season.

Vea will wear the captain’s “C” for the fifth consecutive season. Meanwhile, Mayfield, Wirfs and Winfield are entering their fourth seasons as Tampa Bay captains.

Mayfield’s leadership experience extends beyond Tampa Bay. Before joining the Buccaneers, he also served as a captain for one season with the Cleveland Browns and one season with the Carolina Panthers.

Godwin and Anzalone Step Up

The two new Buccaneers captains are hardly strangers to leadership responsibilities. Godwin previously served as one of Tampa Bay’s eight captains during the 2023 season.

Anzalone also brings considerable experience to the position. The veteran linebacker served as a captain during all five of his seasons with the Detroit Lions from 2021 through 2025.

Tampa Bay signed Anzalone as an unrestricted free agent in March. He immediately stepped into a starting role while also becoming one of the team’s most important veteran voices.

Replacing Two Longtime Captains

Godwin and Anzalone also fill an important leadership void following the departures of two longtime Buccaneers captains. Lavonte David retired after spending 14 seasons with Tampa Bay, serving as a captain during 12 of them.

Mike Evans also left Tampa Bay this offseason after nine consecutive seasons as a team captain. Evans continued his career with the San Francisco 49ers after leaving the Buccaneers in free agency.

Replacing leaders of that caliber is not an easy task. However, Tampa Bay’s players clearly believe Godwin and Anzalone are ready to take on greater responsibilities.

Buccaneers Begin 2026 Season Sunday

The six captains will lead Tampa Bay into a season that begins Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Buccaneers will open their 2026 campaign on the road in Cincinnati.

With four returning captains and two experienced additions, Tampa Bay has plenty of leadership heading into Week 1. Now, those six players will have an opportunity to set the tone for the Buccaneers throughout the 2026 season.