Heading into the 2026 season, the Houston Texans have named the four players who will serve as captains and lead this team.
The Houston Texans are ready to start the 2026 season and will do so on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, which is expected to be a very hard-fought game that could come down to the fourth quarter.
On that note, the Texans will need strong leaders to make it through games like that as well as make a push for an AFC Championship Game appearance. With that in mind, Houston has named four captains for the 2026 season and it appears to be a strong collection of leaders.
The four captains are quarterback C.J. Stroud, defensive end Will Anderson Jr., linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, and safety Jalen Pitre. It is an interesting approach to go with one offensive player and three defensive players, but based on how this team is constructed, it does make a lot of sense, with plenty of strong leaders on the defensive side of the ball.
So, with captains named, let's take a look at each of them and see what they bring to this team as players and as leaders.
Starting with Stroud, he is coming off a tough year as he was inconsistent for parts of the year, but despite that he was still able to help the Texans to a playoff win, however throughout the playoff run, he did struggle with turnovers which will be something he looks to improve in 2026.
Following the struggles that Stroud had last season, he is entering a massive year where his play will dictate whether or not he is able to sign a long-term extension with Houston. With that in mind, Stroud will be motivated and do everything he can to lead this offense and this team to a successful season in 2026.
Now looking at Anderson, he had a great season in 2026 and if it wasn't for Myles Garrett breaking the sack record, Anderson may have won defensive player of the year. Throughout the season, Anderson was very disruptive against the run and as a pass rusher which helped the defense to become one of the top units in the NFL.
So, heading into this season, if Anderson can build off his success from last year, he should be able to once again compete for defensive player of the year, but also lead this defense to being dominant once again and very likely make it very difficult for opposing offenses to move the ball.
Al-Shaair is another great choice as a captain on the defensive side of the ball as he serves as the middle linebacker and provides solid communication for this defense. Additionally, Al-Shaair is a player that brings great physicality that enables him to play the run very well and break up passes over the middle.
As Al-Shaair and this defense prepare for the 2026 season, his ability to lead by example with physicality and communication are two things that should help to get this defense in good positions to find success all year long.
With Pitre being named a captain as well, he complements the other three captains in a great way, as he represents the third level of the defense. As a safety, Pitre brings great communication, ball skills, and versatility which is exactly what makes him a great safety but also a great captain.
So, heading into this season, if Pitre can continue his constant communication, utilize his versatility, and make plays on the ball, he should be able to help the secondary complement the rest of the defense very well and put this team in a strong position to be the best defense in the NFL.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans also had some words on what he thought about the captains, "We have the right four guys leading our team when it comes to captains," Ryans said.
Clearly the Ryans and the Texans feel great about who they have chosen to be the captains and after a strong showing in 2025, it seems Houston has the leadership necessary to have a great year in 2026 as well with Stroud, Anderson, Al-Shaair, and Pitre leading the way.
