The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed American defensive back Destin Talbert to a contract extension through 2027. He was scheduled to become a CFL free agent in February.
“Destin got good in a hurry; he’s in that bucket of people that got good in a hurry,” football operations president Orlondo Steinauer said from the winter meetings in Calgary.
The 26-year-old started 18 regular-season games for the Ticats in 2025, recording 55 defensive tackles, three special teams stops, and three interceptions while developing into an elite boundary halfback. He added two tackles and one interception in Hamilton’s East Final loss to the Montreal Alouettes.
As a CFL rookie in 2024, the Darien, Ill. native registered 58 tackles and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, in 18 regular-season games for the Tabbies.
Talbert attended NCAA FCS powerhouse North Dakota State University, suiting up in 67 games over five seasons with the Bison. The six-foot, 187-pound cornerback posted 144 career defensive tackles, three tackles for loss, 25 passes defended, four interceptions and two forced fumbles, but went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He did attend rookie mini-camp with the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.
At his NDSU pro day, the ultra-athletic cover man recorded a 4.50 time in the 40-yard dash, 4.37 shuttle, 6.94 three-cone, 40-inch vertical, along with a 10-foot, three-inch broad jump and 20 reps with 225 pounds on the bench press. That raw athleticism helped him transition to the CFL game quickly and develop into a high end player on the backend.
Talbert was named to 3DownNation’s definitive 2025 all-star team.
Hamilton finished first in the East Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record. Bo Levi Mitchell led the CFL with 5,296 passing yards, 36 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions after starting all 18 regular-season games, earning the East Division’s nomination for Most Outstanding Player.
The Tiger-Cats ranked third in net offence, eighth in net defence, and first with a turnover differential of plus-ten. The team’s leading rusher was Greg Bell with 1,038 yards, the leading receiver was Kenny Lawler with 1,443 yards, and the leading tackler was Stavros Katsantonis with 69 tackles. Hamilton ranked fourth in attendance with average crowds of 22,858, which was a 3.9 percent increase from the previous year.
