The Steelers will have five captains for the 2022-23 NFL season.
Cam Heyward leads the way with his eighth consecutive season as one of the defensive captains, and he's accompanied by T.J. Watt on that side of the ball. This is Watt's second time as a team captain.
Serving alongside those two are three new names: Mitch Trubisky and Najee Harris will represent the offense, and Miles Killebrew will serve as the team's special teams captain.
Trubisky is arguably the most noteworthy name among the five captains. He's come in as a free agent and taken on the daunting task of replacing Ben Roethlisberger, earning the respect of his teammates in the process.
"It's a tremendous honor," Trubisky said. "Any time you're voted on by your peers and your teammates, it obviously means a lot. I just tried to come in here and tried to lead by example and earn the trust of my teammates. For them to vote me a captain, it definitely means a lot."
The Steelers have had as few as two captains (2012, 2017) and as many as six (2009) during Tomlin's tenure as head coach. The last quarterback, Roethlisberger, was a captain every season under Mike Tomlin, with 2010 as the lone exception when he was suspended for the first four games due to serious off-the-field issues.
Just a few hours after the announcement of this season's team captains, the Steelers released their first depth chart of the 2022 season with Trubisky atop the list of quarterbacks. So, what has been speculated for many weeks seems to be all but official: Trubisky's the guy to start the season.
The inclusion of Harris as a captain in his second NFL season is also quite telling. Harris has been groomed to become one of the leaders in the locker room since he was drafted, and his teammates certainly feel he is already capable of that role.
"It really shows the leadership he has," Heyward said of Harris. "He's a guy who leads by example. He doesn't say a lot. But, he was destined to be a captain. He's the bell cow."
The Steelers have had bell cows -- such as Le'Veon Bell -- in the past who weren't named team captains. So, why is Harris different?
"It's what he does off the field," Heyward added. "He is locked in. Guys follow him. And he's learning how to challenge guys. He's going to be that one guy, years down the road, you're going to be saying, 'Najee Harris, Steelers captain,' again and again."
Here are the Steelers' captains during Tomlin's tenure:
• 2007: Hines Ward, James Farrior, James Harrison, Clint Kriewaldt
• 2008: Roethlisberger, Ward, Farrior, Jeff Reed
• 2009: Roethlisberger, Ward, Farrior, Harrison, Reed, Keyaron Fox
• 2010: Heath Miller, Ward, Farrior, Fox
• 2011: Roethlisberger, Ward, Farrior, Arnaz Battle
• 2012: Roethlisberger, Brett Keisel
• 2013: Maurkice Pouncey, Roethlisberger, Ryan Clark, Keisel
• 2014: Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Robert Golden, Shaun Suisham
• 2015: Roethlisberger, William Gay, Heyward, Golden
• 2016: Roethlisberger, Gay, Heyward, Golden
• 2017: Roethlisberger, Heyward
• 2018: Roethlisberger, Pouncey, Heyward, Chris Boswell
• 2019: Roethlisberger, Pouncey, Heyward, Roosevelt Nix
• 2020: Roethlisberger, Pouncey, Heyward, T.J. Watt, Jordan Dangerfield
• 2021: Roethlisberger, Heyward, Derek Watt
• 2022: Trubisky, Harris, Heyward, T.J. Watt, Killebrew
OTHER DEPTH CHART NOTES
• In Monday's initial announcement of the depth chart, Mason Rudolph was listed as the backup quarterback. However, less than an hour prior to Tomlin's Tuesday press conference, the Steelers released an updated depth chart that moved Kenny Pickett into the backup role.
• Jaylen Warren is the No. 2 running back behind Harris.
• Kevin Dotson is listed as the starting left guard. Kendrick Green is No. 2.
• George Pickens is listed as one of three starting receivers alongside Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool.
• Devin Bush is listed as the starting inside linebacker alongside Myles Jack.
• Newcomer Malik Reed is backing up Watt at left outside linebacker. Jamir Jones is behind Alex Highsmith.
