Following their practice on Tuesday, the Jets named QB Aaron Rodgers, LB C.J. Mosley, DL Quinnen Williams, and P Thomas Morstead as their four captains for the 2024 campaign.
Rodgers is captain for the second year in a row, having just recovered from a torn Achilles tendon four plays into his Jets debut. In his 18 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers was selected as captain 12 times before he was traded to New York in April 2023.
WR Garrett Wilson stated at training camp, “[Rodgers] is just so great and so us, as competitors and athletes, we want to match that greatness.” The way he is just brings out the desire in us to find a method to match his level. He’s the kind of guy that, in a positive way, gets you thinking during practice. He can make us all work extremely hard to meet the standard that has been set by simply knowing what he expects, since it’s not always like that with guys and it’s not like that everywhere.”
“You can feel the experience that he has when you’re on the field with him,” All-Pro LT Tyron Smith continued. He is undoubtedly skilled at what he does. He really facilitates and eases the process of getting through everything. He makes things easy and is a huge assistance.”
Mosley, the Jets’ 2017 Selfless Warrior Award winner, will lead the Green & White for the fifth time as captain. In 2019, his first season with the organization, he was chosen the defensive captain of the Jets. He opted out of the 2020 campaign and was named captain again in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Mosley, who turned 32 in June, was selected to the Pro Bowl five times. After leading the Jets in tackles with 145, he also recorded five tackles for loss, seven pass defenses, and two forced fumbles. Mosley is coming off another successful season. He consented to a new, two-year deal in the summer, giving the franchise greater salary cap room and the ability to recruit free players.
Williams stated, “He’s someone to back you up and is unbelievable.” “Having a leader like that in this organization and team helped me become a leader, he gave me the confidence to speak up when I need to speak up.”
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich added: “There is no human within this game that works as hard as he does and is as consistent as he is and means as much to a defense as he does.”
Williams, the Jets 2023 MVP, will be a captain for a second straight season. In the wake of Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury in Week 1, the two-time Pro Bowler, who is starting his sixth season, was named captain. After that, he led one of the most productive defenses in the league with 5.5 sacks, 62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, and 3 pass defenses.
“He has a strong internal presence,” HC Robert Saleh remarked. “When he’s playing at his best, he makes it easy for everybody to do their jobs, but not just that, he’s the ultimate team guy, and is very coachable.”
For the first time in his 15-year NFL career and for the third time with the Jets, Morstead is captain. After re-signing with the Green & White in March, Morstead, who wore the “C” in 2014 and 2015 with the New Orleans Saints, will don the patch once more.
In 2023, Morstead, 37, had the most punts of 50 yards or more in the league. Along with leading the NFL in punt returns with 99, he also placed second in terms of punts downed inside the 20-yard line with 36 and first inside the 5-yard and 10-yard lines with 14.
Last season, special teams coordinator Brant Boyer remarked of him, “You can’t say enough good stuff about him.” “And I’ve said in here a ton, I’ve always had the upmost respect for Thomas and the way he approaches the game and how he is in the locker room and how he is in our room.”
