Jets name six new captains for 2026, leaving previous leaders off the list

The New York Jets have unveiled a new six-person captain roster for the 2026 campaign, chosen by their peers. The group includes quarterback Geno Smith, guard Joe Tippmann, linebacker Demario Davis, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and wide receiver/punt returner Isaiah Williams. Smith, Davis and Fitzpatrick are all first-year Jets, brought in for their experience and leadership qualities.

The decision surprised observers because none of the 2025 captains—wide receiver Garrett Wilson, linebacker Jamien Sherwood and special-teams standout Marcelino McCrary-Ball—were re-selected, and even star players Wilson and Breece Hall were left off the list. Davis, who previously served as captain eight times with the New Orleans Saints, returns for his third tenure with the Jets, the team that originally drafted him in 2012, and is expected to help steer the franchise toward improvement.