Advertisement

From gym teacher to CFL's best defender, Lions' Betts brings pass-rush prowess back to NFL

From gym teacher to CFL's best defender, Lions' Betts brings pass-rush prowess back to NFL

In terms of impact signings, there might not be a less consequential period in the NFL calendar than mid-February. Most American football fans aren't familiar with the CFL, even its stars, but Betts' production was unquestionably eye-catching. In his fourth season with the B.C. Lions, he racked up league-leading 18 sacks and was awarded Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2023. After Betts' breakout season ended with a playoff loss in late November, three NFL teams worked him out, but things clicked during a late-December visit to Detroit.