Learning and Leading on the Field
September 3, 2026
Northwestern University's football program named six captains for the 2026 season — all current students or alumni of the School of Education and Social Policy.
Linebacker Braydon Brus (BS25); offensive lineman Jackson Carsello (BS25, MS26); quarterback Aidan Chiles; defensive back Robert Fitzgerald; running back Joseph Himon II (BS25) and wide receiver Griffin Wilde will be leading the team, which opens the season against South Dakota State at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on Sept. 5.
Three of the six —Carsello, Fitzgerald, and Wilde—earned preseason honors.
Learn more about each player:
- Braydon Brus (BS25), known as one of the hardest working, most competitive athletes on the team, started all 13 games last season and registered 81 total tackles (41 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery, all of which were career highs. In high school, he finished fourth-place in his age group at the 2019 World CrossFit Games.
- Jackson Carsello (BS25, MS26) studied learning and organizational change, minored in history and is the the first person to earn a master's in organizational development at the School of Education and Social Policy. He started every game last year, is rated among the top centers in the nation, and was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List.
- Aidan Chiles joined the Wildcats in 2026 after stops at Michigan State and Oregon State. Last season for Michigan State, he played in the first nine games and completed 63 percent of his passes (128-of-203) for 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns before missing the final three games of the season with injury. Chiles led the Spartans last season with six rushing touchdowns, amassing a net total of 227 yards on 81 carries.
- Robert Fitzgerald was given the team’s prestigious No. 1 jersey, after a vote from his teammates. The jersey is “awarded annually to a player who embodies what it means to be a Wildcat in the community, in the classroom, and on the field," according to Northwestern Athletics. Fitzgerald was also named to the 2026 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List after his breakthrough 2025 season which earned him All-Big Ten Second Team honors. He’s the leading Big Ten returning tackler, ranking second in the conference and 25th nationally in total tackles a season ago.
- Joseph Himon II (BS25) is known as an explosive and versatile running back. "He can run the ball, he can catch — heck, don't be surprised to see Joe throw something," running backs coach Aristotle Thompson told NUsports.com. "He really has a diverse skill set on the field, and if you blink, you might miss it." Comfortable in a leadership role, Himon says he "does the right things when no one is watching, learning what motivates each teammate, and emphasizing common goals." Beyond sports, he's an executive board member for the Black Student Athlete Alliance and deeply interested in fashion and how it connects with identity and culture.
- Griffin Wilde, the Most Valuable Player in the 2025 GameAbove Sports Bowl, was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. Wilde spent his first-year and sophomore collegiate seasons as a member of South Dakota State, helping the Jackrabbits win a national championship in 2023. Now, he'll line up across from some of his former teammates on Saturday. “Making my way, finding my voice on this team, and then eventually getting voted captain—it's a big honor," he told NUSports.com. "I just felt grateful and thankful."