I’m not really sure exactly how far back it goes, but at least in recent years the Pittsburgh Steelers preferred to have a team captain for the special teams unit. Former safety Robert Golden spent at least a couple of years in that role, but the group turned to something of a gimmick last season.
Though it would not happen every week, a special teams player could ‘earn’ the captain title for at least the next game with his play the previous week, and he would be awarded a cane to carry and everything.