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Former CFL defender Celestin Haba signs with UFL’s Columbus Aviators

by
3Down Staff
March 2, 2026

American defensive lineman Celestin Haba has signed with the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League.

The six-foot-one, 250-pound defender spent two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, recording 18 defensive tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles. He played 18 regular-season games during the 2023 and 2024 seasons and made six starts.

The 26-year-old signed with the Toronto Argonauts as a free agent in 2025 and played three regular-season games, making three defensive tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. He was released by the team in August.

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The native of Columbia, S.C. joined the practice roster with the B.C. Lions shortly after he was cut by the Argonauts, a stint that lasted seven weeks. He never dressed for a regular-season game with the Lions.

Collegiately, Haba played at East Texas A&M University, where he made 39 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one interception over 16 games.

The Aviators are a new UFL team scheduled to play for the first time in 2026. The team will play out of the Historic Crew Stadium, which opened in 1999 and seats around 20,000.