Mathieu Betts was named the 2023 Outstanding Defensive Player.
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.”