On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced their four team captains for the upcoming 2023 season. 

Voted on by fellow Steelers players, these four individuals represent a unique mix of young talent with veteran experience.

Per the Steelers’ website, the distinction of being a Steelers captain means being one who “the team can depend on” and “who lead in multiple ways, from their actions on and off the field, to knowing what to say in key situations,” as well as upholding the values head coach Mike Tomlin strives to maintain. 

The 2023 season features just four team captains, one less from last season. 

Kenny Pickett was named the captain on offense, earning the mark for the first time in his career. He is the only captain on the offensive side of the ball, a sign of his ever increasing role in a young Steelers offense. 

Last season, quarterback Mitch Trubisky, then the team’s starting quarterback, and running back Najee Harris were team captains on the offensive side. 

Pickett previously served as a captain his final two years quarterbacking at Pitt. 

The Steelers have had a quarterback serve as team captain every year since 2008, when Ben Roethlisberger first got the nod to serve. Interestingly enough, only in Mike Tomlin’s first year coaching did the Steelers not have a QB serve as captain. In 2007, wide receiver Hines Ward was the only captain on offense. 

Cam Heyward is a team captain once again for the Steelers, his ninth consecutive time being named a team captain. First honored in 2015, the Pittsburgh native continues in his veteran leadership role for the team, while also still being a solid contributor on the defense. 

The Steelers and players will look to him as the defense infuses several free agents and recent draftees into the lineup. 

Also on the defense being named a captain is TJ Watt, now being named a captain for the third time in his NFL career. Previously serving in both 2020 and 2022, Watt is looking to remind the league of his pure dominance, after missing nearly half the season last year with injury. 

Arguably the most important defensive player in the league, Watt joins Heyward as the only group on this year’s team to have more than one team captain.

In charge of the special teams is safety Miles Killebrew. Also named captain on special teams in 2022, Killebrew is entering his third season in Pittsburgh, after four years with his draft team, the Detroit Lions.

Primarily a special teams player, Killebrew has played just a handful of snaps with the defense his first two seasons as a Steeler.

(Featured photo by Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)