Titans’ Azeez Al-Shaair, Morgan Cox talk being selected captains

The Tennessee Titans revealed the seven captains selected by players for the 2023 campaign on Wednesday, with three of them being first-time captains with the team.

You had the usual suspects like running back Derrick Henry, safety Kevin Byard, quarterback Ryan Tannehill and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, all of whom have been captains multiple years in a row now.

But the team also named three new captains in center Aaron Brewer, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and long snapper Morgan Cox.

Al-Shaair was the biggest surprise of the group considering he’s in his first year with the team. But anyone who has paid close attention throughout the offseason has seen the leadership qualities Al-Shaair possesses. Adding to that, he’s wearing the green dot, making him a leader on defense by default.

“It was a pretty cool moment when I found out,” Al-Shaair said, per Jim Wyatt. “I try to lead by my actions, but also try to impact the guys and reach them where they are and meet them where they are. Just try to be authentic, be myself. That’s naturally kind of how I am, just a caring person… In San Francisco, they used to call me the team therapist because if anybody has an issue, you need to talk about something, you’re usually talking to Azeez.”

Cox is entering his third year with the team and brings a very different style of leadership than Al-Shaair, who is much more vocal.

“This will be my first full year being a captain, I’m honored to be selected by my teammates,” Cox said, per Wyatt. “I see it as more of a lead by example in your work ethic and how you approach the game. I’m not as much of a rah-rah guy, so I kind of like to work in quiet. But also, if you have a comment or something, I try to speak up in meetings if I see something on film that we want to talk about and work through, I get the leeway to do that.”

While the Titans have officially designated seven players as captains, Cox noted there are many more than that throughout the locker room.

“I’m designated as a captain, but I see a lot of captains around this locker room,” Cox said. “A lot of captains will show themselves on the field with how they play, and so I’m very honored to be selected as a captain.”