Montrealer Mathieu Betts has signed with the NFL's Detroit Lions

Canada's Mathieu Betts, one of the CFL's most coveted free agents, is headed back to the NFL.

The CFL's standout defensive player last season will sign with the NFL's Detroit Lions, according to a league source. As of noon ET on Tuesday, the 28-year-old became a free agent in Canada.

This marks Betts' second attempt at securing an NFL job. He signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent in 2019 after being selected in the first round, third overall, by the Edmonton Elks in that year's CFL draft.

After being released from Chicago, Betts returned to Canada.

Betts had a stellar '23 campaign in Canada with the BC Lions. He led the CFL with 18 sacks, setting a Canadiens single-season record.

The former Laval star appeared in all 18 of BC's regular-season games, recording 44 tackles, three forced fumbles and a blocked punt.

“Once a Lion, always a Lion,” the BC Lions tweeted Tuesday. “We wish Matthew Bett (Detroit) all the best with the Lions.

“You're doing well.”

The six-foot-three, 250-pound Betts is betting on a deal with Detroit. As one of the top free agents in the CFL, he would be making north of $200,000 a year, especially considering the year he's gone.

If he is released by Detroit, he will return to the CFL after the teams start their 24-year schedule. As a free agent, Betts will have the option to sign with a Canadian team of his choice, but his contract here will be prorated and less than what he will receive this week.

The CFL All-Star is taking a calculated gamble by joining a strong Lions team that reached the NFC Championship before losing 34-31 to the San Francisco 49ers.

Detroit's defense boasts former first-round pick Aidan Hutchinson in 2023, who had 11.5 sacks. But the Lions have only one pass rusher under contract for next season, James Houston, who required surgery for an ankle injury that required a foot and four screws. put in a joint.

Through 55 CFL games, Betts had 81 tackles, 27 sacks, five forced fumbles and four special teams tackles.

Betts had a stellar collegiate career, winning back-to-back JP Metras Trophy honors as Canadian university football's top lineman (2017-18). He also helped Laval win two Vanier Cups during his tenure.

– This Canadian Press report was first published on February 13, 2024.