B.C. Lions’ defensive lineman Mathieu Betts has been named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the 2023 CFL season, winning the vote by a margin of 49 to 12 over Toronto Argonauts’ strong-side linebacker Adarius Pickett.
The 28-year-old from Montreal recorded 42 tackles, 18 sacks, and four forced fumbles this season, breaking the previous single-season sack record by a Canadian, which was set by Brent Johnson of the B.C. Lions in 2005. He was named a West Division all-star and a CFL all-star.
The six-foot-three, 250-pound defender was selected in the first round of the 2019 CFL Draft out of Université Laval by the Edmonton Elks. He had a brief stint with the Chicago Bears before signing with Edmonton, where he made two sacks and one forced fumble over 19 career games.
The three-time J. P. Metras Trophy winner signed with the Lions as a free agent ahead of the 2022 season, inking a two-year deal. He is currently set to become a free agent this off-season.
Voting was conducted by 61 national members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC).
