Detroit Lions name 5 team captains for 2021 season

The Detroit Lions have announced five captains to lead their 2021 campaign. On offense, the two captains are quarterback Jared Goff and center Frank Ragnow. The defensive captains are a pair of linebackers, Trey Flowers and Alex Anzalone. Meanwhile, the special teams captain is long-time ace Jalen Reeves-Maybin.

Flowers is the lone returning captain this year. In 2020, the Lions named six captains, but the roster has undergone a significant change since then. Goff and Ragnow take the place of Matthew Stafford and Taylor Decker, the former having been traded away this offseason. Last year’s defensive captains were Flowers, Jarrad Davis, and Duron Harmon, the latter two ended up leaving in free agency. With the release of Don Muhlbach, the mantle of special teams captain falls to Reeves-Maybin.

Of the five captains, two of them are new to the team. Quarterbacks are expected to be leaders of the team, so Goff getting that title is not unexpected, but Anzalone getting the nod is a slight surprise. However, it is a worthwhile position for the former Saint, who has praised the leadership under Dan Campbell, and he is expected to wear the “green dot” helmet and will relay the defensive play calls.

Barring any unexpected moves, these are expected to be the captains for the entire season.