The Atlanta Falcons are hoping to make a serious statement this season once they take the field for Week 1 of their schedule next Sunday when they face off against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium.
The leaders of the team have set the tone in the locker room early since OTAs and through training camp and preseason, and now those names have a “C” patch next to them.
Five Falcons, including running back Bijan Robinson, right guard Chris Lindstrom, linebacker Divine Deablo, safety Jessie Bates III and kicker Nick Folk, will sport the captain patch on their jerseys this fall.
It’s the first time Robinson, Deablo and Folk have been voted captains. Lindstrom was a captain in 2023 and 2025, while Bates III has held the honor each year since joining the organization in 2023.
Bijan Robinson was also recently ranked No. 3 overall on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list to add to his accolades.
Atlanta carried six captains last season under former head coach Raheem Morris. Penix served as the team’s sixth captain in 2025, but his uncertain Week 1 status has kept the team from naming him or the other top quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as captain.
An NFL team’s starting quarterback is usually a lock to be a team captain. It is the most important position in the sport and one that requires leadership skills. The main problem in Atlanta is that there was not a clear signal-caller to pick as captain.
The majority of the football world has likely not been familiar with names like Deablo or Lindstrom, and Nick Folk as 41 years of age has likely been forgotten, but veteran leadership is something this young Falcons team is lacking, and Folk will help them in that department in 2026.
The most notable name left off of the captain list outside of quarterback is star wideout Drake London. London was voted as the No. 66 best player in the NFL by his peers via the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026 list.
He also led the Atlanta Falcons in receptions during his first three NFL seasons (2022 through 2024). His best year came in 2024, when he totaled 100 receptions, 1,271 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
His 2025 season was cut short due to injury, where he missed five games. He still racked up 68 receptions for 919 yards and seven touchdowns before hip and PCL injuries cut his campaign short.
