FRISCO — In the last five seasons, the Cowboys have had captains on a weekly basis during the regular season and postseason.
Not anymore.
Rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he wants the same captains for the entire season, with one addition for each game.
His goal was four captains for the season, but on Sunday morning players made a statement and voted for six captains.
Cowboys
Osa Odighizuwa, Donovan Wilson, Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Brandon Aubrey and C.J. Goodwin will be the captains for the 2025 season.
Schottenheimer said he won’t have an extra captain for the season opener on Thursday against Philadelphia.
“Be the guys to the forefront that lead us,” Schottenheimer said of his expectations for captains. “Be the guys that are communicating. Be authentic. I think that’s a huge thing for me. Be authentic. Lead the way you want to lead.”
One of the surprises of the newly elected captains is Wilson, a soft-spoken safety.
Last year, Wilson was named a captain for a Week 4 game at the New York Giants. Schottenheimer said Wilson’s skill set as a hard hitter, without saying much, resonated with his teammates.
“I think they look at his play style. There’s an intensity with Dono. I love the guy,” Schottenheimer said. “When I go around and talk to guys before practice, the handshake, the embracement, the eye contact is just different. The guy just loves football, and so that’s why you let the players vote. I think the players got it right.”
Twitter: @calvinwatkins
All eyes on Week 1: See photos from Cowboys’ Sunday practice ahead of season opener vs. Eagles
View Gallery
DaRon Bland’s extension is the first step for the Cowboys after Micah Parsons trade
In the wake of the blockbuster deal, there’s pressure on Jerry Jones and the Cowboys’ front office.
Dak Prescott responds to Cowboys’ trade of Micah Parsons: ‘It got personal’
The Cowboys quarterback speaks publicly for the first time on the trade of the star pass rusher.
Cowboys get more good news on Trevon Diggs as cornerback progresses toward return
Diggs, a surprise addition to the roster last week, is nearly fully recovered from knee surgery.
Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.