PITTSBURGH - The Steelers selected four players to serve as team captains for the 2016 season, the team announced through a vote of their teammates today.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will serve as the offensive captain, cornerback William Gay and defensive end Cameron Heyward will serve as the defensive captains, and safety Robert Golden will serve as the special teams captain.
Roethlisberger has been selected as an offensive captain for the eighth time in his career (2008, '09, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15 and '16). This marks Golden's third consecutive year as a captain, and the second for Gay and Heyward. This is also the second consecutive season the four players have been named as captains together.
The following are the Steelers' team captains who have been selected during head coach Mike Tomlin's tenure (since 2007):
YEAR | OFFENSE | DEFENSE | SPECIAL TEAMS |
2007 | Hines Ward, WR | James Farrior, LB | William Gay, LB Clint Kriewaldt, LB |
2008 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB Hines Ward, WR | James Farrior, LB | Jeff Reed, K |
2009 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB Hines Ward, WR | James Farrior, LB James Harrison, LB | Keyaron Fox, LB Jeff Reed, K |
2010 | Heath Miller, TE Hines Ward, WR | James Farrior, LB | Keyaron Fox, LB |
2011 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB Hines Ward, WR | James Farrior, LB | Arnaz Battle, WR |
2012 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB | Brett Keisel, DE | |
2013 | Maurkice Pouncey, C Ben Roethlisberger, QB | Ryan Clark, S Brett Keisel, DE | |
2014 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB | Troy Polamalu, S | Robert Golden, S Shaun Suisham, K |
2015 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB | William Gay, CB Cameron Heyward, DE | Robert Golden, S |
2016 | Ben Roethlisberger, QB | William Gay, CB Cameron Heyward, DE | Robert Golden, S |