Steelers’ Next Special Teams Captain Is Becoming Extremely Clear After Big Hint

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a major special teams leadership question to answer before the 2026 season, and one familiar name may already have the inside track. The Steelers lost a significant piece of their special teams identity when Miles Killebrew left Pittsburgh and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Killebrew was not just a depth safety. He was one of the NFL’s most respected special teams players and the type of locker-room voice that is not easy to replace. That is why the next special teams captain matters.

Pittsburgh has several players that are capable of stepping up, but Payton Wilson may be the most logical choice. Wilson was thrown into that role last season after Killebrew went down, and that experience could give him a head start as the Steelers move forward under a reshaped coaching staff.

The idea was recently brought up in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chat when Gerry Dulac was asked who could become the Steelers’ next special teams captain. He pointed to Wilson as the likely choice, while also mentioning Ben Skowronek as another strong candidate.

"Payton Wilson served in that capacity last season when Killebrew went out, so I’m guessing it might be him," Dulac said. "But Skowronek [is] a good choice too."

Wilson is still young, but he already has experience handling that responsibility. Being a special teams captain is not just about running downfield and making tackles. It is about communication, accountability, understanding weekly adjustments, and setting the tone for players who may only get a handful of snaps to change the game.

That is where Wilson’s case becomes interesting. He is not only a special teams player. He is also an inside linebacker trying to become a bigger piece of the Steelers’ defense. If Pittsburgh gives him that role, it would say a lot about how much the organization trusts his maturity and football intelligence.

Skowronek on the other hand has built his Steelers value through the dirty work. He is not the flashiest offensive player, but he has become one of those teammates who can matter on game day, even without a major role in the passing game. Coverage units, blocking responsibilities, effort plays, and physicality are all part of his value. That is why Dulac did not dismiss him.

Skowronek is the type of player coaches trust because he understands exactly why he is on the roster. He does not need touches to affect games. He can make a tackle, recover a loose ball, block for a return, or help flip field position. That kind of player can easily become a tone-setter on special teams. Still, Wilson feels like the more natural choice if the Steelers want the captain role to represent both present value and long-term growth.

Steelers Need A New Special Teams Voice

The Steelers are not just replacing a player. They are replacing a voice. Killebrew had credibility because he had done the job at a high level for years. He blocked punts. He covered kicks. He made Pro Bowls. He earned respect because special teams was not a side job for him. It was part of his identity.

Wilson cannot copy that exact path yet. He has to build his own. That starts with reliability. If Wilson is going to be the special teams captain, he has to be one of the players Pittsburgh can count on every week. That means being available, understanding the plan, and setting the standard for the rest of the unit. It also means helping younger players understand that special teams snaps are not throwaway plays.

Those snaps can decide games. The Steelers have won plenty of close games because of a field-position swing, a forced fumble, a blocked kick, or one clean coverage tackle that prevented a big return. A team with playoff expectations cannot afford sloppy special teams play.

That is why this decision matters. New special teams coordinator Danny Crossman will need players who can carry his message onto the field. Coaches can install the plan, but captains help enforce it. Wilson already had a taste of that responsibility. Skowronek has the profile of a player who could handle it too.

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