Prior to signing with the Detroit Lions, Mathieu Betts turned down offers from other NFL teams.
Prior to signing with the Detroit Lions, Mathieu Betts turned down offers from other NFL teams.
The CFL’s 2023 Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Mathieu Betts, has joined the Detroit Lions, adding a big piece to their roster. This is a particularly significant move for the Lions because they want to improve their pass rush. After recording eighteen sacks in eighteen games for the BC Lions the previous season, several NFL teams expressed interest in Betts. Betts declined offers from other teams, one of which included money that was guaranteed, in favor of the Lions because he felt there would be a better opportunity and fit for him there.
A Pair Made in Paradise?
His choice highlights the allure of the Lions’ environment and culture, which emphasize teamwork and a strong work ethic under coach Dan Campbell. After a brief stint with the Chicago Bears in 2019, Betts is returning to the NFL, which gives Detroit’s defensive lineup more experience and maturity.
Through a videoconference on Wednesday, Betts expressed his excitement to the media, saying, “I feel like I have a really good chance of doing it.” Betts is eager to compete and try to make the roster. “That’s the roster we were the most confident I could crack, especially in the NFL.” It was my first workout of the off-season, and everything about it—the vibe, the conversations, and the chemistry with the staff—just felt right.
I knew I had made the right choice since I felt at ease with it as soon as we revealed the team that would represent our final choice. I also felt great at that moment. I’m thrilled and incredibly proud of myself. That’s all I can ask right now because I think it’s right,” he said.
“They were impressed by my strength on film and felt that it matched their team’s commitment to hard work.” The one thing they told me that really stood out on the film was that they observed someone who was putting in a lot of effort, and once that box was checked, they began to consider various football and athletic capacities.
“I believe that everything I did five years ago, I can do better now, so I feel like I’m in a better position to make an NFL roster from a football standpoint.”
The Bottom Line: A Motown Perfect Match
A major turning point for Mathieu Betts and the Detroit Lions is that he decided to sign with them after declining other lucrative NFL offers. The chance to play in the NFL is not the only factor in this decision; other considerations include potential growth and the proper team culture. Betts provides the Lions with a skill set, experience, and a work ethic that is ideally matched with the culture Coach Campbell is fostering.
His inclusion on the team is a sign of the Lions’ strategic direction and a prime example of luring players who share the team’s convictions. The story of Betts’ transition from the CFL to Detroit is one of tenacity, talent identification, and the advantages that both parties derive from a player-team combination that works well together.
