Steelers Reveal Wilson, Watt Among 4 Captains

The Pittsburgh Steelers are an organization of tradition and accountability. You don’t find six Super Bowls without repeated execution of lofty ideals, nor do you win at least eight games in 20 consecutive seasons.

Plenty of praise is given to ownership and head coach Mike Tomlin for presiding over Pittsburgh’s continued competitiveness, but if the players on the field aren’t living the mantra, none of it matters.

Fortunately for the Steelers, they aren’t short on leadership. On Monday, they announced the four captains who will be leading them into battle this season.

Quarterback Russell Wilson, edge rusher T.J. Watt, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, and safety/special teamer Miles Killebrew will have the honor of wearing the “C” on a historic uniform in 2024.

The captaincies aren’t particularly surprising. Watt is one of the best players in the sport, and Heyward is the esteemed veteran in the locker room, the main holdover from iconic teams of the last decade.

As the starting quarterback, Wilson was a shoo-in for a captain spot, too. However, it is notable that Wilson earned his peers’ votes given he’s been in the locker room for just a few short months – one of which he wasn’t practicing much due to injury. To his credit, he’s said and done all the things expected of a leader under center during his short stay.

The importance of being named a captain under a Tomlin regime isn’t lost on the Steelers.

“They are the ones who make sure the Standard is the Standard, a value that has been instilled in all,” Teresa Varley wrote for the team’s website . “This year the Steelers selected their 2024 team captains based on those standards. They are players coaches can depend on. They are players teammates can depend on. And they are players who uphold what being a Steelers player is all about.”

Related: Did Ex Russell Wilson Teammate Take a Shot at Steelers' QB?

Pittsburgh’s surplus of veteran leadership is only made more important by the adversity facing the team this summer. With many counting them out after a tumultuous offseason and lack of high-level additions, they’ll each play a critical role in helping Tomlin extend his streak and potentially win a playoff game for the first time since 2016.

The captains will get their first chance to lead in a meaningful game on Sunday, when the Steelers visit the Atlanta Falcons to begin their season.