Louisville Kings defensive lineman Lorenzo Mauldin IV announced his retirement on Wednesday via his X account (formerly Twitter).
Lorenzo Mauldin IV is six foot four and weighs 259 pounds. The 33-year-old from Sacramento, California, signed with the Louisville Kings on February 11, 2026.
The New York Jets drafted Mauldin IV in the third round (82nd pick) in the 2015 NFL Draft. Mauldin IV played two seasons with 33 tackles (20 solos, 13 assists), three tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 26 games. In 2017, he missed the season due to a back injury. In 2018, he made one tackle (1 assist) in four preseason games.
The Jets released him on September 1, 2018. Next, Mauldin IV signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on April 15, 2019. Mauldin IV played two seasons in Hamilton with 25 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble in 17 games.
The Ottawa Redblacks signed Mauldin IV as a free agent on February 8, 2022. In 2022, Mauldin IV made 43 tackles, 17 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 18 games on his way to being named a CFL All-Star and a winner of the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award. In 2023, he made 29 tackles, five sacks, and one forced fumble in 17 games.
In 2024, he made 52 tackles, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles in 18 games. He was named to the All-CFL Team and a CFL East All-Star.
The Redblacks re-signed Mauldin IV on January 8, 2025. In 2025, Mauldin IV made 26 tackles and two sacks in 14 games. The Redblacks traded Mauldin IV to the Calgary Stampeders on September 28, 2025, for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick. He appeared in one game for the Stampeders.
Collegiately, Mauldin IV played four seasons at Louisville (2011-14) with 114 tackles (77 solos, 37 assists), 33.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, eight pass breakups, and six forced fumbles in 47 games, of which 24 were starts for the Cardinals. In 2013, he was named Second-Team All-American Athletic Conference.
