B.C. Lions
The B.C. Lions signed defensive end D.J. Walden to a future contract that starts in 2026 on Thursday according to the CFL Transactions page.
D.J. Walden is six foot and weighs 230 pounds. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Walden re-signed with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football One League on October 10, 2024.
In 2025, he made 22 tackles (18 solos, 4 assists), 7 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 10 games. In the playoffs, he made four tackles (4 solos), two tackles for loss, and one sack, helping the Firebirds win the Arena Crown Championship over the Nashville Kats.
Walden went undrafted in 2022. He worked out for the XFL and CFL before signing with the Albany Firebirds on October 23, 2023. In 2024, he made 18 tackles, 10 sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 10 games, helping them to a 7-2 record, and appeared in Arena Bowl XXXIII against the Billings Outlaws.
Collegiately, Walden played five seasons at Shorter University (2018-21) making 79 tackles (42 solos, 37 assists), 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in 31 games for the Hawks.