Why some NFL players have ‘C’ patches and stars on their jerseys as Patrick Mahomes to wear symbol in Super Bowl

Eagle-eyed NFL fans may notice that some players’ jerseys look a little different to the rest in the Super Bowl this evening. There are plenty of unique patches across the league, including one worn by the likes of Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott, each season. Mahomes is one of the Chiefs’ captainsGetty But one that often catches the eye is a ‘C’ patch with stars that certain players on most teams will be seen with. It will be present on multiple Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia players, including Patrick Mahomes, during Super Bowl LIX. So talkSPORT.com has taken a look at what exactly that patch represents ahead of the big game tonight… What is the NFL’s ‘C’ Patch? Players who have been named a team captain typically wear the ‘C’ patch on their jerseys. There is a standard design used by all teams participating in the captaincy program, with patches in their colours that are worn on the front left or right breast. The number of gold stars on the patch, underneath the ‘C’, represent the number of years that player has been named captain by a team. One gold star would represent one year, two stars would represent two years, three stars for three years and four stars for four years. If a player has been named captain for longer than four years, the ‘C’ on the patch is also turned gold. Mahomes and fellow Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce will both have the gold patches as they’ve been captains for longer than four years. Kansas City will have their star quarterback, Kelce, Nick Bolton, Chris Jones, Harrison Butker and James Winchester as captains. Kelce has a gold captain patch like MahomesGetty Meanwhile, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is one of their team captains along with A.J. Brown, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay and Jake Elliott. Hurts will not have a golden patch as this is his fourth year as captain, meaning next season, he will upgrade. There are multiple captains on each team as they are split into three sections: Offensive, defensive and special teams. That means there will always be a captain present on the pitch for each team at all times in the game no matter who is in possession of the ball. During special weeks in the regular season, the patch could be a different colour, such as pink for breast cancer awareness or camouflage for military service recognition. In 2018, the NFL began a partnership with the American Cancer Society by using a multi-coloured captain patch. Eagles QB Hurts will be wearing the patch for the EaglesGetty Chiefs and Eagles captains Kansas City Chiefs: Captains Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Nick Bolton, Chris Jones, Harrison Butker and James Winchester Philadelphia Eagles: Captains Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay and Jake Elliott What do captains do in the NFL? Starting in 2007, the league began permitting teams to name up to six players as captains. On each game day, they are involved in coin toss procedures and can make choices on a penalty option. For the coin toss, each team can send as many as six team captains to the center of the field, but on each team, one captain is designated the ‘speaking captain’ of the delegation. The visiting team chooses ‘heads or tails’ and the winning captain can either choose to kick or receive to begin the game. If a penalty occurs during a game, the offended team captain has a choice of accepting a penalty enforcement or declining, except where said penalty is automatically ‘enforced by rule’. NFL captains are involved in the coin toss before gamesGetty Does every NFL team wear the ‘C’ patch? While ‘C’ patches are a common sight across the NFL, some teams – including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens – do not use the patch on their jerseys. However, they still designate captains and the decision to wear or not wear patches can come from the coach or a team vote. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have never used the patch during the respective tenures of their head coaches Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh. Read More on Super Bowl LIX Follow LIVE build-up to Super Bowl LIX here ‘That hurts bodies’ – Patrick Mahomes outlines major concerns with proposed NFL change ahead of Super Bowl Emotional DeAndre Hopkins desperate to win first Super Bowl for blind mom who’s never seen him play in NFL ‘Never be done again’ – Patrick Mahomes in awe of historic Michael Jordan feat that Chiefs QB doesn’t think he can reach ‘It shocked me’ – Tom Brady’s ‘nervous’ Fox debut stunned the man who caught NFL legend’s historic final touchdown Who is performing the Super Bowl halftime show and who will be singing the National Anthem? How to follow Super Bowl 2025 – TV channel, live streaming and talkSPORT coverage for NFL showpiece FOLLOW – talkSPORT End Zone YouTube Channel brings you all the latest news, views and ana

Feb 9, 2025 - 19:23

Why some NFL players have ‘C’ patches and stars on their jerseys as Patrick Mahomes to wear symbol in Super Bowl

Eagle-eyed NFL fans may notice that some players’ jerseys look a little different to the rest in the Super Bowl this evening.

There are plenty of unique patches across the league, including one worn by the likes of Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott, each season.

But one that often catches the eye is a ‘C’ patch with stars that certain players on most teams will be seen with.

It will be present on multiple Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia players, including Patrick Mahomes, during Super Bowl LIX.

So talkSPORT.com has taken a look at what exactly that patch represents ahead of the big game tonight…

What is the NFL’s ‘C’ Patch?

Players who have been named a team captain typically wear the ‘C’ patch on their jerseys.

There is a standard design used by all teams participating in the captaincy program, with patches in their colours that are worn on the front left or right breast.

The number of gold stars on the patch, underneath the ‘C’, represent the number of years that player has been named captain by a team.

One gold star would represent one year, two stars would represent two years, three stars for three years and four stars for four years.

If a player has been named captain for longer than four years, the ‘C’ on the patch is also turned gold.

Mahomes and fellow Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce will both have the gold patches as they’ve been captains for longer than four years.

Kansas City will have their star quarterback, Kelce, Nick Bolton, Chris Jones, Harrison Butker and James Winchester as captains.

Kelce has a gold captain patch like Mahomes

Meanwhile, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is one of their team captains along with A.J. Brown, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay and Jake Elliott.

Hurts will not have a golden patch as this is his fourth year as captain, meaning next season, he will upgrade.

There are multiple captains on each team as they are split into three sections: Offensive, defensive and special teams.

That means there will always be a captain present on the pitch for each team at all times in the game no matter who is in possession of the ball.

During special weeks in the regular season, the patch could be a different colour, such as pink for breast cancer awareness or camouflage for military service recognition.

In 2018, the NFL began a partnership with the American Cancer Society by using a multi-coloured captain patch.

Eagles QB Hurts will be wearing the patch for the Eagles

Chiefs and Eagles captains

Kansas City Chiefs: Captains

Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Nick Bolton, Chris Jones, Harrison Butker and James Winchester

Philadelphia Eagles: Captains

Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay and Jake Elliott

What do captains do in the NFL?

Starting in 2007, the league began permitting teams to name up to six players as captains.

On each game day, they are involved in coin toss procedures and can make choices on a penalty option.

For the coin toss, each team can send as many as six team captains to the center of the field, but on each team, one captain is designated the ‘speaking captain’ of the delegation.

The visiting team chooses ‘heads or tails’ and the winning captain can either choose to kick or receive to begin the game.

If a penalty occurs during a game, the offended team captain has a choice of accepting a penalty enforcement or declining, except where said penalty is automatically ‘enforced by rule’.

NFL captains are involved in the coin toss before games

Does every NFL team wear the ‘C’ patch?

While ‘C’ patches are a common sight across the NFL, some teams – including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens – do not use the patch on their jerseys.

However, they still designate captains and the decision to wear or not wear patches can come from the coach or a team vote.

Pittsburgh and Baltimore have never used the patch during the respective tenures of their head coaches Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh.