The Eagles announced their captains for the 2024 season on Friday. The team voted to name seven players as captains who will don the "C" on their jersey each game.

For six out of the seven players selected to be captains this year, it's not the first time. For one player, it will be.

Jordan Mailata, drafted in the 7th round of the 2018 draft by the Eagles, has come a long way in his career. The 6-foot-8 tackle had never played a snap of football before entering the league as a rugby player from Australia, but now he has worked his way to be a captain of the team – one of the highest honors a player can earn.

"I mean, first off, I'm extremely honored to be a part of that creed, and I didn't expect it. Whether I've had the 'C' on my chest or not, I've always considered myself a leader, just trying to prove and follow the example that was set for me by the veterans and captains I've had in the past. So to now have the 'C' doesn't really change my mentality, you know, just going to still go about my day and about my hustle," Mailata said.

"That's something that I'm going to cherish and not take for granted, because it's an incredible opportunity to lead this team and to be a captain is crazy."

Mailata will enter the season coming off of a season in which he started and played in 100 percent of the team's offensive snaps (1,147). The seventh-year tackle is excited for the season to officially get rolling and he is grateful to the teammates who have helped him earn the honor.

"Lane (Johnson), Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Jalen Hurts, guys who I've had the honor of playing with and who have been previous captains or still captains now," Mailata said. "It's a great example to have been a part of and to see them lead and how it can help move me as a leader. That's what I'm excited about, just to keep on this journey with the same guys, it's not going to change anything."

Here is the complete list of players who will serve as captains for the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles:

• A.J. Brown (2nd season as captain)

• Jake Elliott (3rd season)

• Brandon Graham (6th season)

• Jalen Hurts (4th season)

• Lane Johnson (3rd season)

• Jordan Mailata (1st season)

• Darius Slay (3rd season)

"It's exciting to be voted on by your peers and your coaches, and just knowing that I have the trust in the organization. It's a role that I've had before and I'm happy to continue it, and hopefully we have another great, great special teams unit," said kicker Jake Elliott about receiving the honor.

"I'm just kind of looking forward to get this thing rolling again, honestly, just being in the locker room with these guys, we got a great group. A lot of good guys coming back, and a couple new faces, a lot of young guys, so it's a great opportunity for me and the other guys to kind of lead them and show them the ropes and how we do things around here."

Being named a captain is a high honor, and the players know that and what it means, especially as they're selected by their own teammates.

"Oh man, it feels great. I'm blessed. I'm thankful for these guys for voting for me. It's always exciting to be a leader for this team and my team recognized me as that leader, and I appreciate each and every one of them. All I do is try to go hard and be a great example," Slay said.

While being named captain is a high accomplishment and shows that one has done a lot in the NFL, the work doesn't stop there. Once you get there, there is always going to be room for improvement and, as Brown put it, it takes "a village" to continue the work.

"It means a lot just my teammates to vote me and to trust me, to lead the guys. My reaction was really just to continue to try to work on myself and try to be the best leader I can be," Brown said.

While the accolades and awards are nice, this team knows there is more to focus on ahead and there is one goal at the end of the season.

"Just continue to keep leading and just try to be great and trying to lead us to wins, victories, and hopefully a ring. That's the main thing," Slay said. – Written by Liam Wichser