The team has announced its captains for the upcoming year, highlighting the continued leadership of established players and a notable first-time choice for a captaincy role. The captains for the 2026 season are:
– Quarterback Jared Goff
– Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown
– Left tackle Penei Sewell
– Defensive tackle Alim McNeil
– Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson
– Linebacker Jack Campbell
– Punter Jack Fox
For the first time in his NFL career, Jack Fox has been named a team captain. Fox began his professional career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019 but was released before the regular season. After a brief stint on KC’s practice squad later that year, he joined the Lions’ practice squad in December 2019. He earned the starting punting job for Detroit in 2020 and promptly set franchise records for both average punt distance and net punt average during his rookie season, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors.
Fox signed a three-year, $11.325 million extension with Detroit in 2022, which at the time made him the NFL’s highest-paid player at the punter position. In 2024, he led the NFL in both gross and net punting averages and earned another Pro Bowl selection. In 2025, he remained the Lions’ punter, finishing with 56 punts for 2,611 yards and an average of 46.6 yards per punt.
As the Lions prepare for the 2026 season, the captaincy group emphasizes a blend of veteran leadership and several younger core players who have become central figures in Detroit’s lineup. Jared Goff remains the quarterback and a steady leader for the offense, while Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell continue to anchor the receiving and offensive line units, respectively. Alim McNeil provides interior defensive presence, Aidan Hutchinson leads the pass rush, and Jack Campbell contributes at linebacker alongside Fox, whose special-teams leadership marks a new era of accountability and consistency for the team.
