BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns are bringing back a time-honored football tradition.
For the first time since head coach Kevin Stefanski took over in 2020, the players have voted on five permanent captains for the upcoming season — two on offense, two on defense, and one on special teams. The designated "leaders" are:
- OG Joel Bitonio
- RB Nick Chubb
- DE Myles Garrett
- LB Anthony Walker Jr.
- LS Charley Hughlett
"I always think it's a big deal when the team votes, when your teammates vote for you," Stefanski told reporters in Berea on Wednesday. "I think that says a lot. I think those guys are all great leaders in their own way and will provide great leadership for this team."
During Stefanski's first two years, the Browns eschewed permanent captains in favor of ones selected prior to each game, and the coach says the club will continue that practice with an additional captain week-to-week. The last time Cleveland had full-season captains was during Freddie Kitchens' lone campaign in 2019, when Hughlett joined then-quarterback Baker Mayfield and linebacker Christian Kirksey in getting the revered "C".
Members of the media noted how Stefanski was "not big on team captains" in the past, but the coach downplayed that, explaining that he's been a part of teams in both situations before and that his first season in 2020 was "unique" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also stressed that these five individuals don't have to be the only leaders in the locker room.
"You don't need a 'C' on your chest to be a leader. You just don't," Stefanski said. "I think leadership comes from a bunch of areas of your football team, but I do think it says a lot about those players, those players that would represent us before the game and go out there. It says a lot about who you are."
Indeed, this year's captain selections should come as a surprise to no one: Bitonio and Hughlett are both the longest-tenured Browns, and Chubb and Garrett might be their best players on each side of the ball. Walker has only been in Cleveland since last year, but has quickly ingratiated himself as one of the on-field leaders of the defense.
The Browns kick off the season this Sunday in Carolina, where former captain Mayfield will lead the Carolina Panthers at QB.