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Steelers Switch to Weekly Captains Under Coach McCarthy

9/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Coach Mike McCarthy announced the Steelers will use weekly captains rather than season-long captains.
The 2025 Steelers captains were quarterback Aaron Rodgers, defensive end Cameron Heyward, linebacker T.J. Watt, and special-teams player Miles Killebrew.
After a season-ending injury, former captain Miles Killebrew signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McCarthy also moved the team’s media address from Tuesdays to Mondays.

History

Historical Context

In the NFL, Rule 18 permits each team to name up to six captains, but coaches often adjust the practice. Bill Belichick’s Patriots have long skipped captain patches and occasionally rotated leaders, a flexibility echoed when the Jets suspended captains after a 2011 altercation. This precedent makes the 2025 Steelers’ shift to weekly captains under Mike McCarthy a continuation of the league’s evolving captain-selection tradition.

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Story summary

Coach Mike McCarthy announced the Steelers will use weekly captains rather than season-long captains.
The 2025 Steelers captains were quarterback Aaron Rodgers, defensive end Cameron Heyward, linebacker T.J. Watt, and special-teams player Miles Killebrew.
After a season-ending injury, former captain Miles Killebrew signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McCarthy also moved the team’s media address from Tuesdays to Mondays.

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