Sam Wilson is officially the MCU’s Captain America in Phase 5’s Captain America: Brave New World after taking up the mantle in Phase 4. Within the MCU’s chronological timeline, Captain America’s iconography was born with Steve Rogers’ participation in Project Rebirth in Captain America: The First Avenger and continued all throughout his time with the Avengers in the present day. The Captain America legend could have died with Steve Rogers’ retirement in Avengers: Endgame, but Steve himself chose to pass on the torch and keep Captain America’s legacy alive.

Sam Wilson earned his superhero status by sheer talent and resolve. Sam Wilson’s MCU journey started when he met Steve Rogers in Washington D.C., where Steve took a liking to Sam’s generous personality and background as a pararescue airman and a veteran counselor. Sam helped Steve Rogers fight the Winter Soldier, became a mainstay member of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as the superhero Falcon, defended the Avengers’ compound from Ant-Man, stood by Steve’s side during Civil War, and participated in the battle against Thanos. Hence, it’s no wonder why Sam Wilson was Steve’s first and only choice for Captain America when he retired.

Sam Wilson Was Given The Captain America Shield At The End Of Avengers: Endgame

Steve Rogers Knew Sam Wilson Was The Best Choice For Captain America

Unlike some of his teammates, Steve Rogers survived the events of Avengers: Endgame unscathed. However, Steve decided to retire as soon as possible, and he chose his successor long before he stepped into the Avengers’ time travel machine. This is why Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers’ best friend for over almost a century, nodded pleasantly when an older, post-time travel Steve Rogers gave Sam the Captain America shield. Steve chose to spend the rest of his life with Peggy Carter in the past, but he also felt morally obliged to return to the present and pass on the torch to Sam himself.

Steve never says it explicitly, but it’s later made clear that what convinced him to choose Sam Wilson over Bucky Barnes is Sam’s courage and humility. With no Super Soldier serum to aid him in battle, Sam Wilson fought aide by side with superhumans and risked his life for the cause, even sacrificing his freedom to uphold his and his friends’ ideals following the Avengers’ dissolution. Steve understood that Sam didn’t need any upgrades to become Captain America apart from the shield.

Sam Wilson Accepted The Role Of Captain America In The Falcon & The Winter Soldier

Sam Wilson accepted Steve Rogers’ offer, but he didn’t feel confident enough to carry Steve’s legacy, which led him to give up the shield at the beginning of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The government saw this as an opportunity to create their own Captain America replacement, assigning the duty to John Walker. Seeing Captain America’s legacy being transformed into a propaganda tool inspired Sam to recover the shield and fully accept the responsibilities of the role. Since they saw the differences between John Walker and Sam Wilson first-hand, the Dora Milaje provided Sam with a Wakandan-made Captain America suit. On July 7th, 2024, the new Captain America officially revealed himself to the world.

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  Captain America: Brave New World

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  Avengers: Endgame

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  The Falcon and the Winter Soldier