Close Vote For Bucs Team Captains
September 7th, 2026
New blood.
The polls closed and there will be no recount.
The Bucs had their captains vote today and winners were announced. And in a rare comment on the mysterious voting process, head coach Todd Bowles said the ballots were not uniform.
On offense, captains are Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs and Chris Godwin; Vita Vea, Alex Anzalone, Antoine Winfield are in place on defense. All but Anzalone and Godwin are returning captains.
“There was a lot of guys that got votes. It was probably closer than it has been in years,” Bowles said.
Bowles praised Anzalone, the free agent inside linebacker from the Lions, for wanting the “green dot” role of calling defensive signals and for asserting himself among teammates from Day 1.
Anzalone is a high-energy, no-nonsense guy and was a five-year captain for Detroit.
Joe finds it interesting that Vea got the votes despite asking for a trade this summer and refusing to practice.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
Love the offensive choices. Nailed that.
Vea should not have been voted captain this year. That should’ve or could’ve gone to Tykee, YaYa, A’Shawn, Nacho or Trotter/Bain Jr. and all would’ve been better choices to me
Otherwise I’m glad Anzalone is one this season and thought he’s deserved it from the jump!
September 7th, 2026 at 2:32 pm
I appreciate the captain choices!
September 7th, 2026 at 2:33 pm
…also thought with the added EMPHASIS on Special Teams and improving that phase of the game this season, that it would’ve been a golden opportunity to name a Special Teams captain too
Missed the boat there I think. But just one man’s opinion.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
I would have taken a pass on VV, but the players are the ones who matter.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Welp I’m excited for the season to start.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
One thing that players all have in common is landing a big contract. The Bucs players apparently are not holding any ill willl against Vita Vea for asking for a trade during contract negotiations.
In life money is usually the number one priority for people. In the end the Glazers want Vita and Vita is looking for a long term contract that makes him a Buc for life. It’s all about that middle ground for both sides getting what they want. GO BUCS
September 7th, 2026 at 2:45 pm
“Joe finds it interesting that Vea got the votes despite asking for a trade this summer and refusing to practice.”
Joe, how can you be so out of touch with the players?
The players know Vea was getting shafted by Licht.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
I don’t think there is anything odd about Vea being captain again. Licht and the Glazers aren’t the voters
If anything the locker room respects him more for taking a stand and getting what most of them feel he is owed.
No surprises in this vote for me. Veteran guys from each room.
September 7th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
In the end Vita never did want to go, he just wanted to get a little more security. In all likelihood in his conversations with his teammates he told them “I don’t want to go anywhere”
September 7th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
What!? No Mike Evans!?!? GO BUCS!!!
September 7th, 2026 at 3:33 pm
Big V had a back injury….then it got better (wink wink)
September 7th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Vea shouldn’t be on that list.
September 7th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
It’s time that AWJr starts playing and acting like one. Cause, I sure didn’t see-it from him last season. Just way too many times, that he looked unfocused and unprepared out there. Even, lazy. If the Bucs are to have a good season (at least 11-12+ wins), then it all has to start with HIM and Chris Godwin having career type of years. Of course, with Baker also having to have a career type of year, already being a given. But, those TWO have to step up and PERFORM at a very HIGH high-level. 💯 LOTS of $$$$$ being invested in those guys… ESPECIALLY, with last season being a washout for Godwin. He HAS TO perform at least at a legit Top-15 WR level, at a minimum, for this season AND next season… To make up for the $22-MILLION ALREADY WASTED on him last season. I mean, you might as well had just taken a match to it then, cause that is exactly what it amounted to.
September 7th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
And, who cares that Vea didn’t PRACTICE.
September 7th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
How they voted VV in is absurd after the nonsense he pulled all summer. Really bad look bashing the organization and demanding a trade. Hardly captain material. Should have gone to Yaya or Tykee, two dogs who give it their all everyday, despite contracts soon to expire.
September 7th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
Vita IS and ALWAYS will be a captain. He was still here and from the sounds of things he was always helping younger teammates and deserved the C on his jersey. As much as we think we know we are not in the locker room around the team, even the Joe’s are limited to what they see and are around. Go Bucs! Let’s have a great year.
September 7th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
That’s an awesome selection of captains IMO.
o On defense, we have a senior member from the DLine, a senior member from the LBs, and a senior member from the Secondary.
o On offense, we have our QB (as it should be), our beast from the OLine, and the senior member from the ‘skill’ positions.
All of them have been top performers in the past, and all of them have something to prove this year. Now they just have to bring the rest of the team along with them.
September 7th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
Anzalone is 6-3 guys.
This defense needs 6-3 middle linebackers
We only play 2 tackling linebackers. Our OLB are more EDGE players than linebackers.
I hope we will draft another 6-3 to 6-5 MLB to develop alongside Trotter in the next 2 years to replace Anzalone down thé road.
Maybe even in the 2nd round next year.
I’d rather get a guaranteed stud MLB in the draft next year than waste another 2nd round pick.
It’s okay if he sits behind Anzalone for a year.
You have a very high chance of grabbing an elite MLB in round 2.
September 7th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
What you mean Daniels isn’t a captain for completing 8 passes in preseason! How can that be?
September 7th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
The boys know it was business and love Vita, its that simple. He was never going anywhere and everyone knew it.
September 7th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
The players have spoken.
September 7th, 2026 at 5:44 pm
Enough with the Vea trade stuff. That was all BS. Everyone, except Joe bucsfan knew this, apparently.
September 7th, 2026 at 6:20 pm
Why is #6 a Captain? What has he done? Besides of having a losing record, and all of the made up injuries????
September 7th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
I second that “enough with the Vea trade stuff”. The players are the voters.
Check out the vid on Anzalone chasing Geno down. Happy to see him calling on defense!
September 7th, 2026 at 6:30 pm
@Teacherman,
Could have had another 6-3 LB in FA this year if JL wasn’t so lethargic. There must have been 12 to 15 that changed teams. May be the same next year.
September 7th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
@ Rastafarian-Jenkins – I agree with that about the timing and everything else. I said at the time, that HE should absolutely NOT be in the Bucs HOF or ROH… And, that it should effect HIS legacy as a BUC 💯. IF, he was actually traded. Now, he has the chance to redeem himself, and make things right. So, it’s just time to move on and get over it. It is a Business, after all. Honestly, I could not really GAF any less WHO the “Captains” of the team are. He is a longtime veteran of the league now, and a lifelong BUC… He can STILL LEAD. He can STILL be a guy for the younger players to learn from, to emulate, and look up to. That’s all that matters from this point, moving forward.
September 7th, 2026 at 7:48 pm
Im sorry, but Vea & AWJ presided over the quitter squad….not worthy, imo
September 7th, 2026 at 8:31 pm
Nice selection and glad to hear that the votes were close. As to Vea, when willl we accept that contract negotiating does not impact how players look at each other.
September 7th, 2026 at 8:35 pm
Why would players resent Vea, he was standing up to the man.
September 7th, 2026 at 9:24 pm
Who cares? It’s an honorary nothing title. The real team captains are the ones that hold other players accountable and chew them out for f’ing up. I assure you Godwin is not that guy, nor is Wirfs.
On defense, Vea is not the guy, not because of the fake hold-in/trade request, but because he doesn’t have the personality. Winfield probably doesn’t either. I don’t know Anzalone well enough to know if he has what it takes to be a real leader but the green dot should be enough. Other than that, we have quite a few newcomers that will serve the real role on defense – Trotter, A’Shawn Robinson and Nacho are the ones that’ll keep the defense on the right track. Maybe even Bain but surely not Diaby (too nice).
Other than Baker, I don’t see anyone on offense that is a true leader but that’s probably the same case for all teams’ offenses.
September 7th, 2026 at 9:30 pm
Wonder how Yaya did? He made no bones about seeking it, publicly. He spoke up about it at last season’s collapse, and this offseason.
September 7th, 2026 at 9:30 pm
One more thing for those who feel so offended by Vea waning to be traded …
You never EVER heard those words from Vita Vea. You heard those words from reporters who likely heard them from Vea’s agent. Was it a negotiating ploy created entirely by the agent without his client’s consent or actual sentiments from Vea? We’ll never really know. We also don’t know if those words were delivered by whomever to the Bucs management or just to reporters.
September 7th, 2026 at 10:07 pm
I don’t like the selection of Vea after he said screw off Bucs as a bargaining chip. I just don’t think he’s proved his loyalty to his TEAM yet. Tykee , even McLaughlin maybe, he’s money as a kicker from the 50 in & hits a majority of his PATs , YaYa , Nacho too. They are a couple of blue collar guys that just play the game so far. Mohammed looks like a sure fire leader too. We will see, I guess.