Colts name five captains ahead of Indianapolis home opener, setting leadership for Week 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium

During Thursday practice, Colts head coach Shane Steichen said teammates voted to select five captains for the 2026-2027 season: safety Cam Bynum, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Jonathan Taylor and guard Quenton Nelson. Steichen described captaincy as a significant honor entrusted by teammates. Jones was cited as a returning captain and expressed gratitude for the responsibility and relationships that come with the role.

The roster notes show varied experience among the group. Jones is serving as a Colts captain for a second straight season and an eighth time overall, after being a captain six times with the New York Giants before joining Indianapolis in March 2025; he returned to practice by the start of training camp after tearing his Achilles in Week 14 last season. Nelson, with the team since 2018, is a six-time captain; Taylor is a three-time captain and led the NFL in touchdowns last season with 1,585 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. Buckner was named captain for a sixth consecutive year and is reported healthy after a late-season neck injury; Bynum, in his second year with the Colts, recorded 81 tackles and four interceptions last season and will wear the defensive green dot for the first time this year, his first captaincy with the team. Several of the cited facts about players’ status and recent performance were provided by the team in the announcement and player remarks.

BusinessIndy examines this development and its implications for Indiana businesses and communities using the linked sources.