Charlotte 49ers defensive back Nafees Lyon, who had a six-year career with the 49ers, has signed as a free agent with the Edmonton Football Team of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
A three-year starter for the 49ers who ranks 14th all-time with 137 career tackles, Lyon was named honorable mention all-Conference USA in 2019 by both the league's coaches and Pro Football Focus (PFF). PFF ranked him as the nation's top defensive back against post routes following the 2019 season.
He started all six games for the 49ers in 2020 and registered 26 tackles. He had his second career interception in the 49ers game at Duke. At Appalachian State he recorded a career-high 10 tackles and 2.0 TFL. Lyon also returned punts for the 49ers. Over the last two years, he returned 19 punts for 95 yards (5.0 yards/ret.).
Lyon ranks sixth all-time for the 49ers with 11 pass breakups and ninth all-time with four career takeaways (2 INT; 2 fumble recoveries). Lyon began his 49ers career with a redshirt season in 2015. After playing in 10 games as a redshirt freshman in 2016, he missed the 2017 season. He started in 2018 and 2019 and received an NCAA waiver to compete in his fourth playing season in 2020. He played in 40 games in his career, making 26 starts.
A Charlotte native, Lyon attended Mallard Creek High School. The three-year letterman keyed the Mavericks 4AA State Championship teams as a junior and senior.