Edward Robert Betts III was born 26 November 1986 in Port Lincoln, South Australia, and raised by his mother, Cindy, in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Betts was drafted by Carlton with pick No. 3 in the 2004 AFL Pre-Season Draft. He played for Carlton and Adelaide in the Australian Football League between 2005 and 2013. He retired in 2021, having played 350 games and kicked 640 goals. As of 2024[update] he is an educator and mentor to Indigenous Australian youth, heading up the Eddie Betts Foundation.