QB Tua Tagovailoa, DT Zach Sieler among six Miami Dolphins captains for ‘25 season
Jordyn Brooks didn’t need the “C” on his chest to be a leader.
The Miami Dolphins linebacker believes leadership is something innate to every person, not something bestowed at the start of every season. So even after his teammates voted him captain for the first time in his NFL career, the six-year veteran didn’t expect anything to change.
“I don’t think stitching a ‘C’ on you makes you a captain,” Brooks said Monday. “I don’t feel like I became something. I feel like I’ve always been that in every level of football that I played. “
Brooks will be one of the Dolphins’ six captains for the 2025 season. Others who received the honor included quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, fullback Alec Ingold, edge rusher Bradley Chubb, Brooks and center Aaron Brewer. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel described all six as guys who earned the captaincy “each and every day.”
“They were the resounding vote-getters,” McDaniel said. “I think it speaks to the team knew the assignment a little bit more and were focused on giving the keys of captainship to those that had earned it each and every day.”
One noticeable name left off the list: star receiver Tyreek Hill.
His teammates, however, did not think that his omission was a big deal.
“I don’t think it was significant because he still brings the energy, he’s still a leader on this team,” Brewer said Monday. McDaniel seemingly echoed his players’ sentiments, explaining that the focus should be on who made it over those that did not.
“It’s more about the guys that we picked and less about the guys we didn’t because there are a lot of guys that are exemplifying tremendous leadership qualities that aren’t captains on this football team,” McDaniel said.
This marks the first time Hill wasn’t named a captain during his four years in Miami. While it’s unclear why the star wideout didn’t receiver the honor, it should be noted that his 2024 season essentially ended with a trade declaration.
“I just got to do what’s best for me and my family,” Hill said in early January. “If that’s here or wherever the case may be, I’m going to open that door for myself. I’m opening the door. I’m out, bro. It was great playing here, but at the end of the day I got to do what’s best for my career because I’m too much of a competitor to be just out there.”
Hill later walked back his statement. Still, the eight-time Pro Bowler said he didn’t “feel like” he deserved to be named a captain during organized team activities.
“I’ve got to prove myself,” Hill said in late May. “This OTAs, training camp, I’ve got to prove myself. I’ve got to show up different; the mind-set has got to be different. I don’t feel like I deserve it, and if I didn’t get it, I wouldn’t dwell on it. I wouldn’t sweat it because I put myself in that position.”
As for the players who were voted captain, the honor was special, especially for guys such as Brewer and Brooks, all of whom had never been in the position before.
The other four — Tagovailoa (four), Sieler (twice), Chubb (twice) and Ingold (three) — had certainly been there before. For Chubb, the honor was especially heartwarming considering how hard he worked to get back after missing the entire 2024 season as he dealt with a torn ACL, meniscus, and patellar tendon.
“All last year, I was trying to find my way as a leader who wasn’t on the field,” Chubb said. “Having to navigate those first couple of weeks and just feeling off and then finally hitting my stride as that guy that’s just bring people along with me even though I’m not on the field. And then when you get on the field, it just comes natural at that point.”
This story was originally published September 1, 2025 at 11:19 AM.
