On Monday, the New York Giants announced the following seven players will be team captains this season: Quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Saquon Barkley, center Nick Gates, linebacker Blake Martinez, safeties Jabrill Peppers and Logan Ryan, and kicker Graham Gano.
Barkley is a third-year captain; Jones, Martinez, and Peppers were selected for a second season; and Gates, Ryan, and Gano received the honor for the first time.
Giants head coach Joe Judge explained what he wants to see from his captains.
“To me, the important thing for a captain is they’ve got to set the tone for the team in how they work, how they perform, and also how to put the team first,” Judge said on Monday. “They have to be the example of the most unselfish players on the team. The other important role for captains in any locker room is they’ve got to be the voice of the team directly to the head coach. So, if there’s an issue, or if there’s something that needs to be addressed, they’ve got to be someone who the team trusts to speak for them on their behalf and make sure that the issue is getting addressed. It’s important that these guys are good players who put the team first, and also have good communication as well and are not afraid to speak their mind.”
Ryan, who joined the Giants last season, was very impressed by Jones’ offseason, and he discussed what went into the selection of the Giants’ captains.
“Daniel (Jones), obviously. He did a great job; he deserves that. He worked his butt off. I’ll probably give him the offseason award winner – I think he outworked me this offseason,” Ryan said. “He really put a lot of work in. (Running Back) Saquon (Barkley), (Center) Nick Gates, obviously great players for our offense. On the defensive side, Myself, Jabrill (Peppers), Blake (Martinez), and then Graham Gano… The one thing I like about here is, Joe says, like last year I got to the team like two days, and he’s like, ‘You don’t know anybody here, don’t even vote for captain. Don’t waste a vote.’ If you’re new here and you haven’t been here, you don’t really know who the captains are, who’s earned it – we’re not going to have everyone just vote. It’s not going to be a popularity contest.
Ryan also discussed what being a team captain means to him.
“I just try to do a good job of serving my teammates, anything the younger guys asking me from my years in the league, I try to be an open book,” he said. “I’m not worried about those guys in terms of holding everything to myself and really just try to put my teammates in the best positions to succeed because we all need each other. I’m honored to be a captain, I take it very seriously, and I’m going to try to do my best with it.”
The seven captains match the 2019 team for the Giants’ highest number since they began selecting season-long captains in 2007
