Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander wasn’t named one of the team’s three captains for Sunday’s tilt against the Carolina Panthers, but he opted to join the captains for the game’s coin toss.
He very nearly made a costly mistake, too.
After he successfully won the coin toss for the Packers, Alexander told the referees that he wanted the Green Bay’s defense to come out onto the field, rather than saying the team wanted to defer.
Had he not clarified, the Packers would’ve forgone the opportunity to receive the kick at the start of the second half.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Alexander indicated that he made the decision to join the captains at the coin toss because he was playing in his hometown.
Jaire Alexander wasn’t announced by the Packers as a game captain, but he went out for the coin toss anyway. And called it. And won it. And almost messed it up.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) December 24, 2023
Sounds like he just did it on his own.
“It’s only suiting. I don’t think coach knew I was from Charlotte.” pic.twitter.com/EVahq6QoOJ
The Charlotte, North Carolina native said that he had his teammates’ support in doing so, but believed that he was overlooked for captain’s duties because Packers coaches forgot he was from the area.
“It’s only suiting. I don’t think coach knew I was from Charlotte,” said Alexander when asked if he made the decision to join the captains on his own. “The guys backed me up, they knew I was from here.”
He also clarified the miscommunication on the coin toss, saying that everyone was laughing over the situation after it was confirmed that Green Bay intended to defer.
Ultimately, Alexander’s near-mishap during the coin toss didn’t have much of an impact on the game. The Packers went on to win 33–30, fending off a late surge from Bryce Young and Carolina during the second half.
