Tampa Bay Buccaneers players selected six team captains for the 2026 season through a vote Monday morning. Quarterback Baker Mayfield, tackle Tristan Wirfs, wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr., nose tackle Vita Vea, linebacker Alex Anzalone and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. received the selections.
Mayfield, Wirfs, Vea and Winfield also served as Tampa Bay Buccaneers captains in 2025. Vea will serve as a captain for a fifth consecutive season, while Mayfield, Winfield and Wirfs are entering their fourth seasons as Tampa Bay captains.
Alex Anzalone brings captaincy experience
Godwin and Anzalone were not Tampa Bay Buccaneers captains in 2025, but both have previous experience in the role. Godwin was one of eight Tampa Bay captains in 2023, while Anzalone served as a captain during each of his five seasons with the Detroit Lions from 2021 through 2025.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Anzalone as an unrestricted free agent in March. He immediately took on a starting job and a leadership role with the team.
Lavonte David and Mike Evans depart
Godwin and Anzalone fill the openings created by the departures of longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers captains Lavonte David and Mike Evans. David retired after serving as a Tampa Bay captain for 12 of his 14 seasons with the team, while Evans moved to San Francisco in free agency after serving as a Tampa Bay captain for the previous nine years.
Mayfield also previously served as a team captain for one season with the Cleveland Browns and one season with the Carolina Panthers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will open their 2026 regular season Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati.
Source: Original report