The New Orleans Saints have set their leadership group for 2026, and the list comes with one of the clearest signs yet about who the franchise is leaning on heading into the new season.
New Orleans announced nine team captains ahead of the 2026 NFL season: quarterback Tyler Shough, center Erik McCoy, guard David Edwards, EDGE Cameron Jordan, EDGE Chase Young, linebacker Chris Rumph II, linebacker Kaden Ellis, safety Justin Reid, and long snapper Zach Wood.
The biggest headline is Shough getting the captain nod in his first season as the starter. The second-year passer has already emerged as a prominent voice around the team since the 2025 campaign ended, and he even took over pre-game speeches.
The Saints also went heavy on defense, naming five defenders as captains. Jordan was an expected choice, and Young has clearly done enough to earn the honor.
Rumph stands out most on the list after a strong camp and growing praise inside the building. The word around the team has been that both players and coaches love him, and that showed up in the captain vote.
One notable omission is running back Alvin Kamara. He had been a team captain in 2022, 2024, and 2025, but he did not make the 2026 list. Even without the captain label, he remains a leader in the locker room, and his push for an extension during the offseason was an interesting development.
McCoy, Reid, Jordan, and Wood are back in familiar roles as recurring captains. Of the Saints’ six captains from 2025, those four are the only ones still on the roster. Brandin Cooks and Blake Grupe, who were captains last season, were released midseason.
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