Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson announced the five players as team captains for the 2025 regular season. He also mentioned a sixth spot that will rotate weekly, though this quintet is the fulcrum of their leadership group. Unsurprisingly, Caleb Williams — the franchise's second-year quarterback — headlines the pack.
Your 2025 Captains 🫡 pic.twitter.com/o8Z6twWyW0
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 2, 2025
Williams, Cairo Santos, safety Kevin Byard III, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thuney will have the "C" on their jerseys. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick is the youngest of the Bears mentioned, and by a considerable margin. It's an interesting assortment of characters, but their Chicago comrades notably voted them into power.
Caleb Williams headlines Bears' 2025 team captains
It marks Williams' second consecutive campaign as a captain; he and Byard are the only two who held this title for the Bears in 2024. Nevertheless, Chicago is ostensibly embracing the change that has come with their coaching staff turnover this offseason. They're trusting a pair of new faces, Thuney and Jarrett, to use their previous experiences elsewhere to help guide the rest of the locker room.
Somehow, despite being an indispensable cog to the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line from 2021 through 2024, Thuney wasn't a captain for them. Nevertheless, his mentorship and malleability were apparent during this time, which has ostensibly garnered respect in Chicago (and quickly). He was a massive factor in center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith's ascensions to stardom. The Bears have an intriguing duo of talented green blockers who can benefit from similar guidance in tackles: Darnell Wright and Ozzy Trapilo.
Moreover, like Thuney, Jarrett has moved up the ranks quickly since latching onto the Bears in March. The two-time Pro Bowl defender earned the captain label six times during a decade-long stint with the Atlanta Falcons. He may no longer be at the height of his powers physically, yet Chicago trusts him to set an example for its youthful nucleus.
Chicago presumably wants to see Williams continue to take steps forward as its organizational focal point, both on and off the field. However, he also faces immense pressure to do so and provide immediate results, which can be overwhelming, especially for a young signal-caller.
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So, they surrounded him with a support system that could help shoulder the burden and aid his development. Jarrett, Thuney, Byard, and Santos are all respected voices who have been around the block once or twice, to say the least.