Rams name 12 team captains for the 2026 season, led by Matthew Stafford and Myles Garrett

The Los Angeles Rams have announced their team captains for the 2026 season, with quarterback Matthew Stafford leading a group voted by teammates after practice, head coach Sean McVay said Monday. The Rams will begin the new season carrying a captaincy that spans the field, from the backfield and skill positions to both edges of the defensive front and the secondary.

Stafford is one of 12 captains named for 2026, joining tight end Tyler Higbee and running back Kyren Williams on the offensive side. Los Angeles also selected offensive lineman Coleman Shelton and wide receiver Davante Adams as captains, a five-man mix that indicates a leadership emphasis on both protection and pass-catching roles as the team sets its weekly tone.

On defense and special teams, the Rams’ captain list points to a similar spread of responsibilities. Defensive end Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Myles Garrett represent the edge and pressure group, while inside linebacker Nate Landman and safety Quentin Lake bring leadership to the middle and back end of the defense.

Cornerback Trent McDuffie was also voted a captain, reflecting the importance Los Angeles places on the secondary’s communication and coverage discipline. Long snapper Joe Cardona rounds out the captain corps, continuing a tradition in which special teams leadership anchors the unit’s consistency.

In the Rams’ structure, captains are more than ceremonial choices. They are the players expected to set the standard day to day in meetings, practice, and preparation, and the announcement provides a quick map of who teammates look to when the game shifts. With a captain group that covers quarterback command, line identity, defensive pressure, and coverage calls, the Rams are distributing responsibility across units rather than concentrating it in one or two positions.

The timing of the announcement matters as well. McVay made the selections after Monday’s practice, meaning the votes were tied to what teammates saw in the early portion of the preseason work and in how those players conducted themselves during team sessions.

What to watch next is how this captain group functions as the season progresses. The Rams’ on-field rhythm often depends on how leadership translates into preparation for specific opponents, especially when defensive matchups and third-down execution demand fast adjustments. With captains spanning multiple phases, Los Angeles will likely lean on this leadership mix to keep roles clear and communication sharp throughout the 2026 campaign.