TAMPA, Fla. — Ahead of Sunday’s road matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, cornerback Jamel Dean and running back Travis Homer served as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ captains at the coin toss.
Dean played the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Buccaneers before signing with Mike McCarthy’s team as a free agent in the offseason. Dean joked earlier this week about having to make sure not to go “on autopilot” and walk into the home locker room at Raymond James Stadium.
The Steelers switched to a weekly captain format under McCarthy.
“I think Mike believes in … everybody has leadership abilities,” Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. “And I think there’s gotta be a way to foster that, and it’s great opportunities, for young guys, especially, or special teamers to lead. Because it doesn’t always have to be the best player on the team, or the oldest player on the team, or the guy with the most Pro Bowls, or the guy who’s been on the team the longest to lead. Young players need to step up and lead.”
Homer, another offseason addition, made his mark as a special teamer with the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Tampa.
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