Pep talks for all 6 New Orleans Saints captains ahead of 2021 season

J.T. Gray, CB

J.T. Gray isn’t a captain for his efforts as a starter but rather what he’s able to do on special teams. Gray slipped through the 2017 NFL Draft and the Saints grabbed him. He’s been with the team ever since and has climbed up the ranks on special teams.

The past two years have seen Gray appear in all 16 regular-season games and this past year, he was involved in 72% of the special teams snaps.

Gray might be listed as a cornerback but the Saints value special teams and they don’t take that aspect of the game lightly. The fact that Gray doesn’t see the field much as a cornerback but was named a captain is a testament to how important he’s been for this team.

Pep talk: Continue making an impact on special teams! Gray earned the “C” on his jersey for a reason and while special teams isn’t the sexiest aspect of a game, it’s an important one. Gray has the honor of being in charge of this group.

Malcolm Jenkins, S

It’s year seven for Malcolm Jenkins in New Orleans and his 13th NFL season overall. Jenkins’ experience speaks for itself and there’s a reason he’ll be one of the six captains for the Saints when the team takes the field for the first time on Sunday.

Jenkins was a former first-round pick in 2009 and is still rocking and rolling to this day. After the first five years of his career were spent in New Orleans, Jenkins went to Philadelphia for six years, added another Super Bowl ring to his mantle, and then rejoined the Saints last year.

While he’s not the same guy he once was, Jenkins is durable. That’s where the pep talk comes into play for the former Buckeye.

Pep talk: Jenkins hasn’t missed a start since 2013. He’s a badass who doesn’t miss games and he’ll keep that reputation up again in 2021 as he enters year No. 13.