Lions sign star defensive lineman Mathieu Betts to two-year extension

By The Canadian Press on December 19, 2024.

The B.C. Lions have signed star defensive lineman Mathieu Betts to a two-year contract extension, the CFL club announced Thursday. Betts sits on the bench during the second half of a CFL football game against the Calgary Stampeders, in Vancouver, on Friday, October 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

VANCOUVER – The B.C. Lions have signed star defensive lineman Mathieu Betts to a two-year contract extension, the CFL club announced Thursday.

Betts was eligible to become a free agent this February.

The lineman from Montreal registered 13 defensive tackles and two sacks in seven regular-season games after rejoining B.C. following a stint with the NFL’s Detroit Lions.

He also scored his first career touchdown on an interception return in a victory over Calgary on Oct. 4.

Betts had a standout CFL campaign in 2023, setting a single-season record for Canadian players with a league-leading 18 sacks.

The 29-year-old was named the 2023 Outstanding Defensive Player while earning West Division and CFL all-star nods for the first time in his career.

“Mathieu is an elite player in this league who is playing at a premium position,” Lions general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said in a release. “He’s truly one-of-one, meaning there isn’t another player like him in the CFL.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2024.