NFL: Chicago Bears announce captains for 2023/2024 season

Matt Eberflus announces team captains | Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have announced their four captains for the upcoming NFL season. Quarterback Justin Fields, safety Eddie Jackson, wide receiver DJ Moore and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds have been selected based on votes from fellow players.

This year’s list of captains marks a notable change from the previous season, with Fields being the only returning captain. Last season, offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, defensive end Robert Quinn and linebacker Roquan Smith held leadership roles alongside Fields.

Both Jackson, a member of the Bears since 2017, and Edmunds, acquired by the Bears this offseason from the Buffalo Bills, were named as the two defensive captains. Moore, acquired by the Bears in a trade that involved the No.1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, was named a new offensive captain, taking over from Whitehair.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus described Moore as someone who can command attention when he speaks.

“He leads by example and when he speaks, everybody listens,” Eberflus said, as quoted by NBC Sports. “He is just a worker. He’s a playmaker, so guys look up to him and that showed in the votes that he got.”

New captains’ profiles

In 2022, Fields had a 60.4 percent completion rate, 2,242 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and an 85.2 passer rating. Similarly, during the same season with the Carolina Panthers, Moore recorded 63 receptions for 888 receiving yards, averaging 14.1 yards per catch and scored seven TDs. He also contributed 53 rushing yards at an average of 5.3 yards per carry.

Meanwhile, Edmunds’ track record includes two Pro Bowl seasons and playoff experience, while Jackson started 12 games in 2022, tallying 80 tackles and four interceptions.

With the caliber the four players are of, Eberflus expressed confidence in his new captains.

“I always tell the guys, the first rule of leadership is to lead yourself, and everybody is a leader,” Eberflus said. “We need leadership in every room, from the first guy to the last guy. We need discipline, and habits have to be right. We need a great job of leading and following.”