The Marvel Cinematic Universe is in the middle of a massive shift in tone as the multiverse continues to expand with new characters and concepts. But with big changes also comes big problems, and, as of now, the only thing protecting Earth are scattered heroes and the promises of teams to come. With the Avengers' return, the Thunderbolts' inevitability, and the Young Avengers being highly teased, there are still clear and present threats working against Earth. But even though there are no teams in the public eye protecting Earth, that doesn't mean there's no one. In fact, one forgotten Avengers team may be working in the shadows under the leadership of none other than Steve Rogers.
The Secret Avengers was a team introduced to take the place of SHIELD and HAMMER as the main peacekeeping force that worked as a spec ops team. The books had members like Moon Knight, Ant-Man, Valkyrie and War Machine, to name a few. It was also led by Steve Rogers when he was no longer Captain America and Sharon Carter, who helped Steve with the day-to-day. Because the team was so flexible, it could handle dangerous threats without interruption and handled various top-secret missions. Because of this, the Secret Avengers would be the perfect team to enter the MCU's Phase Four.
Steve's fate has yet to be confirmed, and even Chris Evans hasn't completely ruled out a return. As the man in the chair, he could conduct oversight on the team, offering morale boosts and tactical support. Even better, many members of the team have already started working and have the best covers so that no one would know who they really serve. War Machine will be combating the Skrull Invasion with Nick Fury; after Endgame, Valkyrie is a king with a thirst for battle, and no one would suspect superhero podcaster Scott Lang to be a capable spy, making it the perfect cover. Steve operating the team even during The Blip would justify his inability to move on, and his continued leadership, even as an elderly man, would show that he still knew the world needed Avengers.
Should Sharon Carter return as a field leader, she could be an enemy hiding in plain sight, causing mistrust in the team and pushing Steve's ability to rely on people to its limits. But with all the espionage, spy combat and shadowy threats, the Secret Avengers would also turn Steve into a new version of Nick Fury. As a man who no longer fought and only used his best judgment to survive, he could prove that Fury's style of leading wasn't the only way to do it, and he could still focus on his belief about not trading lives no matter the cost.
Since the initial Avengers left such a mark on the MCU, their absence and subsequent splintering into more teams would be the best solution to continue the original team's legacy. The Young Avengers could handle street-level issues, the main team would handle larger threats, and the Secret Avengers would handle the darker tasks previously conducted by SHIELD. As such, the world would be protected on multiple fronts, and Steve could still maintain his anonymity.
Secret Avengers wasn't the most beloved team based on the Avengers. But their purpose would best fit as a team in the MCU since the franchise initially began with people conducting spec ops missions. It's the perfect team for veteran fans of the franchise but also a perfect avenue for smaller and more violent heroes to be a part of a team. Even though the Secret Avengers operate in the shadows, the chance that Steve Rogers could lead a new team would promise an even brighter future for the MCU.