A former fourth-round pass rusher who spent four productive seasons opposite Danielle Hunter in Minnesota before joining Detroit.
DJ Wonnum built his career as a steady edge rusher for the Vikings before two seasons in Carolina, and now enters his seventh NFL season with the Lions. The South Carolina product has twice reached eight sacks in a season while playing alongside star pass rushers.
Path to the league
Wonnum played his college football at South Carolina before the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the fourth round (117th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Wonnum spent four seasons in Minnesota, twice recording eight sacks in a season while rotating with and starting alongside Danielle Hunter. Across 86 career games, he has totaled 244 tackles, 30 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception.
2025 season recap
Wonnum spent 2025 with the Carolina Panthers, recording 42 tackles, three sacks and three passes defensed across 16 games, before signing with the Lions in March 2026.
Sources
- Wikipedia: D. J. Wonnum
- Pro Football Reference: DJ Wonnum
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Defense
16 games played▶Defense · career
| Year | Team | GP | TOT | SOLO | SACK | INT | FF | FR | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | panthers | 16 | 42 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 2024 | panthers | 8 | 37 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | vikings | 15 | 62 | 33 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 2022 | vikings | 16 | 38 | 27 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | vikings | 17 | 47 | 29 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2020 | vikings | 14 | 24 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- South Carolina
- Hometown
- Stone Mountain, GA, USA
- Age
- 28
- Status
- active
