Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced their 2022 team captains for the upcoming NFL regular season. They include RB Najee Harris, DT Cam Heyward, S Miles Killebrew, QB Mitch Trubisky, and LB TJ Watt.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Mitch Trubisky (#10) greets offensive coordinator, Matt Canada, before a preseason match-up against the Detroit Lions at Acrisure Stadium on August 28, 2022. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The players were voted by their teammates and both Harris and Trubisky represent the offense, Heyward and Watt represent the defense, and Killebrew represents special teams.
Harris, Trubisky and Killebrew are first-time captains for the organization, whereas Heyward has now been named for the eighth consecutive year. This is Watt's second time as he was also named a defensive captain in 2020.
Our 2⃣0⃣2⃣2⃣ team captains:@ohthatsNajee22@CamHeyward
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 5, 2022
Miles Killebrew@Mtrubisky10@_TJWatt
📝: https://t.co/vyUjtrr6Qt pic.twitter.com/EV4wIgcivI
“It’s always good to get that type of acknowledgement from somebody like Mike T [Coach Tomlin],” Harris explained earlier this off-season when the head coach called him a "natural born leader."“Even guys in the room put me, let me be in that position to be that person, so… I appreciate it.”
Harris is poised to have another workhorse season with undrafted rookie, Jaylen Warren and veteran, Benny Snell backing him up. As far as Trubisky, the announcement of him being selected as an offensive captain sure sounds like he's got the QB1 job to start the season as good as locked up over rookie first rounder, Kenny Pickett. For how long however, will remain the question throughout the early parts of the season.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kenny Pickett (#8) participates in the 2022 preseason finale against the Detroit Lions at Acrisure Stadium on August 28th in Pittsburgh, PA. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Heyward and Watt are perennial All-Pro caliber players, and their production and health will be vital to the success of the league's most expensive defense.
Last season, Killebrew only had seven tackles, but he also had two blocked punts and will look to be a force yet again for Danny Smith's unit.
More to come.
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