Half of the Bengals' 2024 team captains are first-time captains, and every one of them deserves it
The Cincinnati Bengals expanded their captaincy and voted for eight players to be team captains this year. Safety Vonn Bell, left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., quarterback Joe Burrow, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, edge defender Sam Hubbard, center Ted Karras, kicker Evan McPherson, and linebacker Germaine Pratt will all wear a capital C on their jerseys for […]
The Cincinnati Bengals expanded their captaincy and voted for eight players to be team captains this year.
Safety Vonn Bell, left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., quarterback Joe Burrow, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, edge defender Sam Hubbard, center Ted Karras, kicker Evan McPherson, and linebacker Germaine Pratt will all wear a capital C on their jerseys for the 2024 season.
Bell, Burrow, Hubbard, and Karras have all been captains before for Cincinnati. Burrow is a five-time captain in just five years. Hubbard is right behind him with this being his fourth-straight captaincy. Bell was a captain for the three years he originally spent with the Bengals. Karras is on a three-year streak of his own.
But not every year has the same captains. Here's why the four new captains deserved their newfound honor.
LT Orlando Brown Jr.
This is only Brown's second year with the Bengals, but the blindside protector for Burrow has been a vocal leader in the locker room and an ambassador for the team since he arrived 18 months ago. There's nothing shy about Brown's personality and infectious charisma. He's a football junkie who keeps it real at the most highly-valued offensive line position. Captaincy makes total sense here.
Akeem Davis-Gaither
He may not see the field all the time on defense, but Davis-Gaither's expertise on special teams is why he's one of two captains for that part of the team. He re-upped for a fifth year under special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons this offseason, and is the most experienced out of any players under Simmons' command. He's past due for this honor, to be completely honest.
K Evan McPherson
Sometimes the money talks. McPherson is fresh off signing a three-year, $16.5 million contract extension last month that makes him one of the highest-paid kickers in the NFL. He's still just 25 years old, but he's came through in the clutch several times during his first three years in the league. The moment's never been too big for him, and that's a great quality for your leaders to have. He's also the most experienced out of the three-man platoon of him, rookie punter/holder Ryan Rehkow, and long snapper Cal Adomitis.
LB Germaine Pratt
When it comes to being clutch, Pratt is always down to make a play. His playoff-win-drought-ending interception, a forced fumble against Taylor Swift's future boyfriend, and many more moments stand out in Pratt's five-year career. That's a reputation worth looking up to. He was the first defensive player drafted in the Zac Taylor era and only Hubbard has logged more starts in this defense.
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