Mathieu Betts Rejects Multiple NFL Teams Before Shocking Signing Decision with Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have made a significant addition to their roster by signing Mathieu Betts, the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player of 2023. This move is particularly noteworthy as the Lions aim to bolster their pass rush. Betts, who notched 18 sacks in 18 games for the BC Lions last year, had garnered attention from multiple NFL teams. Despite offers from other teams, including one with guaranteed money, Betts chose the Lions, believing in a better fit and opportunity with the team.
His decision underscores the appeal of the Lions’ culture and environment under coach Dan Campbell, emphasizing work ethic and team synergy. Betts’ journey back to the NFL, after an initial stint with the Chicago Bears in 2019, brings added experience and maturity to Detroit’s defensive lineup.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to be able to compete and to try to make that roster and I feel like I have a really good chance of doing it,” Betts told the media via videoconference on Wednesday. “Especially in the NFL, that’s the roster we were the most confident that I could that crack. It was the first workout that I had this off-season and the chemistry, the energy, the discussions I’ve had with the staff there just felt right.”
“As soon as we announced the team that was our final decision, I felt a relief and I felt great at that moment, so that’s why I knew that I made the right decision because I feel at peace with the decision. I’m excited, I’m really proud about it. I feel like it’s right, so that’s all I can ask at this point,” he said.
“They saw my strength on film and that’s something that they really liked, that fit their team in terms of working hard. The one thing they told me that popped off film is they saw somebody that was working hard and after they got that box checked, then they started looking at different athletic capacities and football capacities.”
“I don’t think there’s anything that I did five years ago that I don’t do better now, so I feel like I’m in a better situation football-wise to make an NFL roster.”
Mathieu Betts’ choice to sign with the Detroit Lions, turning down other lucrative NFL offers, signals a significant milestone for both the player and the team. This decision is not just about the opportunity to play in the NFL but about finding the right team culture and potential for growth. For the Lions, Betts brings a combination of skill, experience, and a high-performance ethic that aligns perfectly with the ethos Coach Campbell is cultivating.
His presence on the roster is a beacon of the Lions’ strategic direction and an example of attracting talent that believes in the team’s vision. Betts’ journey from the CFL to Detroit encapsulates a story of perseverance, talent recognition, and the mutual benefits of a well-matched player-team relationship.