Deommodore Lenoir
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49ers star cornerback Deommodore Lenoir has been named a team captain for the 2025 season
The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for Week 1 of the 2025 campaign, and they will be intent on putting together a bounce-back season after winning just six games and missing the playoffs entirely last year. With a group of star players returning to the field after dealing with a plethora of injuries, there’s hope that the Niners will be able to find their way back to the top of the NFC West.
On Wednesday, San Francisco revealed their eight captains for the upcoming season, with many of the usual suspects (George Kittle, Fred Warner, Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, and Kyle Juszczyk) earning the honor. That group has a new face, though, as cornerback Deommodore Lenoir has joined the 49ers’ leadership group.
49ers Name Deommodore Lenoir a Team Captain
Lenoir got his start in the league as a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Over time, Lenoir eventually became a starting cornerback, locking down one of the jobs early in the 2022 season. As time has gone on, Lenoir has continued to get better, and he enters the 2025 campaign as the 49ers’ top cornerback.
In 2024, Lenoir was one of the few bright spots for San Francisco, as he managed to suit up in 15 games, racking up 85 tackles, two interceptions, nine pass deflections, and one fumble forced. In November, Lenoir put pen to paper on a five-year, $92 million contract extension, solidifying his status as a key piece of the team’s future.
While that sort of big-money deal comes with heightened expectations on the field, it also comes with expectations off the field. The 49ers have been looking for Lenoir to take on a bigger leadership role in the locker room, and it appears he has done so, as he was the team’s only first-year captain among their aforementioned group.
“Lenoir, drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round in 2021, earns his first captain role this season after establishing himself as a key defensive leader over the past four years, recording six interceptions, 26 passes defended, and 265 total tackles in his career so far,” Briana Jeannel wrote on the team’s official website.
49ers Counting on Deommodore Lenoir to Produce in 2025
Deommodore Lenoir
GettyDeommodore Lenoir celebrates after an interception against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 20, 2024.
San Fran shed quite a bit of talent this offseason, but they have a lot of stars at their disposal. That includes Lenoir, who is now the top player in their secondary heading into the new campaign. Renardo Green and Upton Stout will be working alongside him at the cornerback spot, with Ji’Ayir Brown and Jason Pinnock manning the safety position.
After seeing so many players deal with injuries last year, fans have been concerned about a hip injury Lenoir has been battling throughout the summer, but it shouldn’t impact his status for Week 1. After an offseason full of preparation, the 49ers will kick off the new year when they take on the Seattle Seahawks in their season-opener on Sunday afternoon, with kickoff being scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.