ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — As the Broncos' Week 1 opener nears, the team has set its captains for the 2026 season.
Safety Talanoa Hufanga, defensive lineman D.J. Jones, safety Devon Key, kicker Wil Lutz, guard Quinn Meinerz, quarterback Bo Nix, inside linebacker Alex Singleton, cornerback Pat Surtain II and wide receiver Courtland Sutton were chosen as captains by their teammates, Head Coach Sean Payton announced Wednesday after practice.
"I think it's just a recognition of how they're seen by their peers," Payton said. "They all lead differently."
Sutton was voted a captain for a sixth consecutive season, while Lutz, Meinerz, Nix, Singleton and Surtain are captains for a third consecutive year.
"It's an honor to be a captain on our team because it's voted by the players, so it's a special honor when your peers and your teammates vote you to be one of the leaders of our team," Nix said. "We have several leaders and to be named one … it's a great responsibility, and with that comes a lot of opportunity."
Sutton added of the honor: "There's an immense amount of gratitude that comes from being named captain. To be able to have your peers and the guys that you share work with — locker room, practice, film, games, bus rides, flights, the whole nine [yards] — you share those moments with, for them to — not just myself, but the rest of the guys that were named captain — look at us and say, 'We trust that you guys are going to help guide us in the right direction, and we believe in you guys to be the anchor for us.' … I just have a lot of gratitude and thankfulness that comes from being named captain for another season."
Jones and Hufanga were each voted captains for the second consecutive season. Key, an All-Pro special teams player in 2025, is the Broncos' lone first-time captain.
"He was an [All-Pro] special teamer a year ago," Payton said of Key. "I think it's the respect of his teammates. He's someone that — he'll play on defense as well — just his production and his consistency [stand out]."
Lutz added of Key: "He's earned every bit of it. … I'm excited to watch him work this year."
The Broncos will begin their 2026 season on "Monday Night Football" against the Chiefs on Sept. 14 at 6:15 p.m. MT on ABC & ESPN.
