Michael Penix Jr.
TheAtlanta Falcons have finalized their leadership group just days before the 2025 season kicks off.
On Monday,the team announced the six players they voted as the captains: quarterbackMichael Penix Jr., offensive linemenChris Lindstrom andJake Matthews, safetyJessie Bates III, linebackerKaden Elliss, and punterBradley Pinion.
It’s a good mix of established veterans and first timers tasked with leading the locker room into a pivotal season that begins on Sunday at home against theTampa Bay Buccaneers.
Familiar Voices at the Helm
Chris Lindstrom, guard for the Atlanta Falcons.
GettyAtlanta Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom leads one of the leagues most dominant offensive lines.
Three of the selections highlight continuity in Atlanta’s leadership.
Matthews, the longest tenured Falcon, will wear the “C” patch for a fifth straight year, extending a streak that mirrors his durability and consistency as the franchise’s anchor at left tackle.
Lindstrom, a two time captain and one of the NFL’s top paid guards, continues to dominate in the trenches.
Bates rounds out the veteran core, earning the honor for a third straight season after quickly emerging as the Falcons defensive leader since arriving from Cincinnati.
These familiar names bring not just talent but credibility. And for a team looking to build sustainable success under head coach Raheem Morris, having a steady foundation of proven leaders is critical.
New Leaders Signal a Transition
GettyMichael Penix Jr. was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The more intriguing part of this year’s captain group comes from the newcomers.
Penix, entering just his second NFL season, was voted a captain for the first time, a rare distinction for a young quarterback and a sign of how quickly he’s earned trust as the face of the franchise.
Elliss also steps into the role after solidifying his place in the middle of the defense, bringing a no nonsense style of leadership that reflects his on field presence.
Pinion, one of the league’s most reliable punters, rounds out the group as an example of a specialist earning respect across the roster, something that doesn’t happen often.
Together, these first time captains represent the Falcons next wave of leadership. And the decision to make them captains shows the locker room’s belief in them and it also offers a glimpse at the franchise’s future beyond its longest tenured stars.
By mixing stability with new voices, the Falcons 2025 captain group feels like a carefully selected reflection of where the franchise stands. Veterans such as Matthews, Bates, and Lindstrom provide the steady hand, while Penix, Elliss, and Pinion show that new leaders are emerging to carry the team forward.
Atlanta’s decision to give this group captain patches sends a clear message: the locker room is confident in both its established foundation and its evolving identity. The Falcons will test their leadership when they open the season against the Buccaneers on September 7. That game will reveal how this new core can set the tone for a 2025 season filled with expectation.