C.J. Stroud Named Texans Captain

The Houston Texans revealed their four team captains Monday headlined by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

The Houston Texans voted for and named their four team captains Monday, and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was named one of them.

It's rare for a rookie to be named a captain in any capacity, even if he is the No. 2 overall draft pick, but Stroud won over his teammates in the four months he has been with them. Houston named safeties Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward and left tackle Laremy Tunsil as the team's other three captains.

Stroud was a captain his third season at Ohio State and helped lead the Buckeyes to a College Football Playoff appearance where he showed grit and determination, leaving everything he had on the field at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. 

Ward is in his first season in Houston but comes entering his 10th season in the NFL as the fifth-most experienced play in the Texans organization. During his time with the San Francisco 49ers, he was named a team captain twice.

Tunsil took over as a captain last season in November, taking over for former wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Tunsil has been a staple on the Texans' offensive line for the past four seasons since being traded from the Miami Dolphins. The Lake City, Florida, native is a three-time Pro Bowler.

Pitre showed leadership by example through his hard-nosed play style last season. He racked up a team-high 147 tackles and five interceptions en route to a fifth-place finish in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

The four honorees will be the ones to represent the Texans during the coin toss Sunday when they kick off their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.