The 49ers have officially named their eight captains for the 2024 season: Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, and Trent Williams.
While the team could have appointed a ninth captain, head coach Kyle Shanahan opted not to. “It was really obvious who those eight were, and the ninth one was too far from it,” Shanahan explained. “I’d rather not have so many. But I’m not going to pick when the team votes it that close.”
It’s speculated that Brandon Aiyuk might have been the ninth captain, but Shanahan could have decided against it due to contentious contract negotiations. Interestingly, Trent Williams, who missed the entire offseason, made the cut, which raises the question—why not Aiyuk? Both are key players for the franchise, but Aiyuk is part of the team’s future, whereas Williams might not be.
Additionally, Juszczyk’s inclusion as a captain is somewhat surprising. While he’s a vocal leader in press conferences, his limited playtime doesn’t seem to justify the role. A captain should ideally be on the field for at least 50 percent of the snaps, and Juszczyk, a part-time player, doesn’t meet that threshold.
It appears that the 49ers’ captains largely consist of what some might call the “Cabo Clique,” the players who vacation with Shanahan in Mexico during the offseason. These are Shanahan’s favorites and close allies on the roster.
It would be refreshing to see a new face earn the captaincy, someone who has worked hard in the offseason and deserves the recognition. A prime example is cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, who stood out as the MVP of training camp.
Maybe his time will come next year.
