The Houston Texans selected linebacker Aiden Fisher with the No. 243 pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Fisher is the first IU linebacker drafted since 2022 and has earned multiple All-America honors.
Key points
Aiden Fisher drafted by Houston Texans at No. 243
First IU linebacker drafted since Micah McFadden in 2022
Multiple All-America honors during his college career
Served as a game captain and wore the green dot helmet
Houston TexansIndiana HoosiersNew York Giants
BLOOMINGTON — The Houston Texans drafted Indiana football linebacker Aiden Fisher with the No. 243rd pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.
Fisher leaves the Hoosiers as the program’s first defender to earn multiple All-America nods. He’s only the second player in team history to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors (Van Waiters). He’s the first IU linebacker drafted since the New York Giants selected Micah McFadden in the fifth round of the 2022 draft.
Indiana football linebacker Aiden Fisher highlights
Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti leaned on Fisher to transfer over the culture they brought from James Madison into IU’s locker room. He also anchored defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ complex scheme. He wore the green dot helmet — the designated player on the defense who can hear play calls from coaches — in each of his two seasons in Bloomington and was a game captain for each game in 2025.
Fisher, who developed a well-earned reputation for calling out plays at the line of scrimmage, was a consistent playmaker as well. He flew around the field during a win over Oregon in Eugene with 13 tackles, returned an interception for a touchdown against UCLA and had multiple sacks in the CFP.
Indiana's Aiden Fisher (4) during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Q&A
What position does Aiden Fisher play?
Aiden Fisher plays as a linebacker.
What round was Aiden Fisher drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Aiden Fisher was drafted in the seventh round as the No. 243 pick.
What accolades did Aiden Fisher achieve at Indiana?
Aiden Fisher earned multiple All-America nods and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection.
Who was the last IU linebacker drafted before Aiden Fisher?
The last IU linebacker drafted before Aiden Fisher was Micah McFadden, selected by the New York Giants in 2022.
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Indiana's Aiden Fisher (4) during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Indiana football linebacker Aiden Fisher NFL combine results
Fisher received an NFL combine invite, but waited to do his testing until IU’s Pro Day. The linebacker posted a 4.76-second 40-yard dash, 37.5-inch vertical jump, 10-foot, 3-inch broad jump and 4.51-second shuttle run. He had a 6.30 Relative Athletic Score, a metric that evaluates NFL prospects by comparing their athletic ability to historical data for their specific position. The score ranked 1,288 out of 3,408 running backs tested going back to 1987.
Indiana's Aiden Fisher (4) celebrates a fumble recovery during the Indiana versus Wisconsin football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.
Indiana's Aiden Fisher (4) celebrates a fumble recovery during the Indiana versus Wisconsin football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.
Indiana football linebacker Aiden Fisher stats
Fisher finished second on IU with 97 tackles (46), his third straight season with more than 95 tackles. He filled up the box score on a weekly basis with 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and one forced fumble. He also had 21 quarterback pressures.
Nov 28, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Aiden Fisher (4), Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (13) and Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker (95) celebrate with the Old Oaken Bucket trophy after the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Nov 28, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Aiden Fisher (4), Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (13) and Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker (95) celebrate with the Old Oaken Bucket trophy after the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Indiana football linebacker Aiden Fisher scouting report
Athletic limitations aside, Fisher is a player NFL teams will want in their locker rooms. He’s a hard-worker that’s as dedicated of a film junkie as Curt Cignetti. Those traits help him make up for a slim build and lack of explosiveness. He replaces a quick first step with pre-snap knowledge of knowing where the ball is going. Fisher’s leadership qualities are second-to-none as well.
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
