The Calgary Stampeders re-signed defensive lineman B.J. Thompson to a contract extension and signed defensive lineman Brandon Maina on Thursday.
B.J. Thompson is six foot six and weighs 243 pounds. The 26-year-old from Little Rock, Arkansas, signed with the Calgary Stampeders on September 22, 2025. He spent the season on the practice squad. The Stampeders released him on November 2, 2025.
The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Thompson in the fifth round (166th pick) of the 2023 NFL Draft. In 2023, he made two tackles (2 solos) in one regular-season game. He was placed on the Non-Football Illness List and did not play the last two seasons. The Chiefs released him on September 12, 2025.
Collegiately, Thompson played two seasons at Baylor (2017-18) with 18 tackles (12 solos, 6 assists), six tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, three blocked kicks, and one interception for six yards in 19 games for the Bears.
Then, he transferred to Stephen F. Austin (2020-22) with 79 tackles (43 solos, 36 assists), 27.5 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, one interception for three pass breakups, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 33 games for the Lumberjacks.
Brandon Maina is five foot eleven and weighs 270 pounds. The 22-year-old from Hiram, Georgia, spent five seasons at Wofford College (2021-25) with 181 tackles (74 solos, 107 assists), 25.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, one pass breakup, two forced fumbles, and one blocked kick in 43 games for the Terriers.
In 2025, he had a career-high 58 tackles (27 solos, 31 assists), 15 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and one forced fumble in 10 games. He was named First Team All-Southern Conference, Second Team All-American by FCS Football Central, and First Team All-Southern Conference by Phil Steele. He was also named Second Team All-Southern Conference in 2023. Maina finished his collegiate career fifth in school history in sacks.
