Erik Lashawn Walden is an American football linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Middle Tennessee State. He has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers.

Walden attended Dublin High School where he practiced football, basketball, and track. In football he played as a running back and defensive end. In basketball he received All-state honors as a junior and senior.

He moved on to Middle Tennessee State University and became a four-year starter at defensive end. As a junior he was an All-Sun Belt Conference selection. Against Central Michigan in the 2006 Motor City Bowl he led his team with six tackles and two quarterback sacks.

Walden was injured most of his senior season, which limited his effectiveness, but was still named All-Sun Belt, after finishing second in conference history in career sacks. He ended his college career after playing in 44 games. He owns the school's career (22.5) and season (11.5) sack records.

Walden was selected in the sixth round (167th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He was waived on August 30 during final cuts.

A day after being let go by the Cowboys, hoping he would clear waivers and enabling them to sign him to their practice squad, he was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs on August 31, 2008. After playing in 9 games and registering 10 special teams tackles, he was released on November 18.

He was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins on November 20, 2008. He played in 6 games and recorded 5 special teams tackles. The next year he was inactive for 5 games and finished with 8 special teams tackles. He was waived on September 9, 2010.

Walden was signed as a free agent by the Green Bay Packers on October 27, 2010, because they were experiencing several injuries on the defensive side. In just his second career start he had a breakout game and was named NFC Defensive Player of the week, after playing against the Chicago Bears, while leading the team with 16 tackles and 2 sacks. He was declared inactive in Super Bowl XLV because of an ankle injury.

In 2011, he became a full-time starter for the first time in his career and posted 86 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 passes defensed and a fumble recovery that he returned for his first career touchdown. The next year he started 9 games, recorded 69 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 passes defensed and his first 2 career interceptions.

Walden signed with the Indianapolis Colts on March 12, 2013. The contract was for four years, $16 million ($8 million guaranteed).

Walden's high school football recruitment is featured in the book "Signing Day" written by Corey Clark and Ira Schoffel.

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