The Buccaneers have turned the page, and their 2026 captains tell the story. With Lavonte David and Mike Evans no longer in the mix, Tampa Bay is leaning on a new blend of established voices and a fresh arrival who wasted no time earning trust.
Alex Anzalone is the newcomer in the group, but he’s already acting like he belongs at the front of the room. Signed as a free agent, the linebacker brought the kind of nonstop motor and hard-nosed edge that made him stand out in Detroit. Through OTAs, training camp, and preseason, he quickly won over teammates, and the Buccaneers made it official by naming him one of their six captains.
The rest of the group looks familiar, which is exactly the point. Chris Godwin remains one of the team’s key voices, even if 2026 may bring a smaller role on the field. Baker Mayfield is back in the captain mix too, no surprise for a quarterback who drives the offense and sets the tone for everyone around him.
The full list: Alex Anzalone, Chris Godwin, Baker Mayfield, Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield, Jr., and Tristan Wirfs.
For Tampa Bay, this isn’t just a ceremonial list. The captaincy comes with real accountability, and the players voted to put these six in that spot because they’re the ones expected to carry the standard every day.
Anzalone, in particular, seems to have made the kind of impression teams love from a veteran addition. The Buccaneers said he had been aiming for the green-dot responsibility on his helmet, and he got it.
Bowles says Alex Anzalone has wanted the green dot since he came in and he’s gotten it. His communication with the rest of the defense has been outstanding and he’s earned a lot of respect from his teammates.
Mayfield’s situation adds another layer to the story. He has been a captain in each of his four seasons with Tampa Bay, but 2026 could put even more on his plate. After not getting an extension this offseason, he enters the year carrying a bigger load, and how he handles that pressure will be watched closely inside the building.
The Buccaneers’ younger players will be paying attention too. In a season defined by change, the captain group gives Tampa Bay a clear picture of who the team expects to lead.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Future Just Pulled A Familiar Name Into The Bowles Debate
Todd Bowles future in Tampa Bay is going to shape plenty of offseason discussion, but the early speculation is already reaching beyond the current staff. A Bleacher Report piece floated Mike Tomlin as a possible Buccaneers candidate in 2027 if Bowles is no longer on the sideline, and the idea is easy enough to see why it has legs. Tomlin knows the organization from his time here as a defensive backs coach, and he has stayed visible while working in sports broadcasting.
For the Buccaneers, the bigger question is less about one name than about where the franchise is headed by then. If Bowles keeps the team winning, the conversation shifts. If the results change or retirement becomes part of the picture, the search could quickly turn toward an established coach with Tampa Bay ties, which is why Tomlins name is already in the mix even this far out. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Get Encouraging Week 1 Injury News Before Bengals Opener
The Buccaneers got their first injury report of the 2026 season this week, and the early read before the opener against Cincinnati is mostly encouraging. Sean Tucker is still working back from a hamstring injury and is listed as a game-time decision, while Emeka Egbuka, who had been dealing with a sprained toe, was a full participant in practice and looks on track for Sunday.
Jalen McMillan was limited with a knee injury, but the signs around him have been positive, and outside linebacker Rueben Bain also practiced in a limited role because of a minor AC joint sprain. Even with a few players still being managed carefully, the Bucs appear to have avoided the kind of early-season injury pileup that can complicate a Week 1 game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Enters A Buccaneers Season With No More Excuses
Todd Bowles heads into the Buccaneers 2026 offseason with the kind of pressure that comes with stability, not chaos. Baker Mayfield is under contract, key players are healthy again, and the roster looks positioned to justify bigger expectations than the ones Tampa Bay has been living with in recent years. That changes the conversation around Bowles, because the usual injury excuses and quarterback uncertainty are no longer there to soften the edges.
The Athletic recently put Bowles third on its list of NFL head coaches most likely to be fired in 2026, a reminder that the league is always quick to turn up the heat when results lag behind talent. For Bowles, the next stretch is less about explaining away setbacks and more about proving the Buccaneers can take the next step with the pieces already in place. The margin for patience is shrinking, and the season ahead may say plenty about how long that leash really is. [Read more 🡒]