Jake Bates Bio
Jake Bates is an American professional football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 3, 1999, in Tomball, Texas, Bates has carved out a unique path in professional football that includes stops with the Houston Texans and Michigan Panthers before establishing himself with the Lions. What distinguishes Bates from typical NFL kickers is his unconventional background, having played college soccer before transitioning to football. He holds the record for the longest field goal in United Football League history, a 64-yard game-winning kick that earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bates signed with the Detroit Lions in June 2024 and quickly became a pivotal part of their special teams unit, setting the franchise’s single-season scoring record in his rookie year.
Early Life and Background
Jake Bates grew up in Tomball, Texas, where he attended Tomball High School and graduated in 2017. During his high school years, Bates was a member of the football team, though he gained greater recognition as a standout soccer player. His dual-sport background would later prove instrumental in developing the leg strength and technique that would set him apart as a professional kicker. After graduating from high school, Bates enrolled at the University of Central Arkansas, where he played two seasons of college soccer for the Bears in 2017 and 2018.
Following his soccer career at Central Arkansas, Bates made a significant career shift by transferring to Texas State University to play college football in 2020. At Texas State, he served primarily as a kickoff specialist before transferring again to the University of Arkansas in 2022 to complete his business degree. At Arkansas, Bates continued his role as a kickoff specialist and earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2022, sharing the selection with Jack Podlesny. His development as a kicker during these college years laid the foundation for his eventual transition to full-time field goal duties at the professional level.
Path to American Football
Despite his success as a kickoff specialist at Arkansas, Bates went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. His path to professional football was not traditional, as most college kickers have extensive experience attempting field goals in addition to kickoffs. In fact, the 64-yard record-breaking kick he would later make in the UFL was only the second in-game field goal attempt of his entire life, with his first attempt having come in high school and resulted in a miss. This remarkable feat underscored his natural talent and leg strength despite limited game experience in the specialty.
After going undrafted, Bates signed with the Houston Texans on July 31, 2023. However, his tenure with the Texans was brief, as he was released during training camp on August 12, 2023. Following his release, Bates stepped away from pursuing football full-time and took a job working as a brick salesman in the Houston area. This period of reflection and ordinary work life would be short-lived, as an opportunity in the spring of 2024 would catapult him back into professional football and change his career trajectory dramatically.
Jake Bates Career
Houston Texans (2023)
Bates signed with the Houston Texans on July 31, 2023, following the 2023 NFL Draft where he went undrafted. The Texans gave him an opportunity to compete for a roster spot during training camp, but he was released on August 12, 2023, before the regular season began. This brief stint provided Bates with valuable NFL training camp experience and exposure to professional coaching, even though it did not result in a roster spot. The release prompted Bates to step away from football temporarily and pursue alternative employment.
Michigan Panthers Breakthrough (2023–2024)
On December 25, 2023, Bates signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL), marking his return to professional football. The Panthers signed Bates partly due to his exceptional kickoff abilities, as the UFL had adopted a unique kickoff rule requiring the ball to travel 80 yards for a touchback, 15 yards longer than the NFL standard. This rule made Bates’s leg strength particularly valuable in the emerging league.
The defining moment of Bates’s career came on March 30, 2024, during Week 1 of the UFL season. In a game against the St. Louis Battlehawks at Ford Field, Bates made a 64-yard game-winning field goal that set the record for the longest field goal in UFL history. The kick surpassed the previous record of 59 yards set by Donny Hageman the previous year and was tied as the second-longest recorded field goal in professional football history. Remarkably, this was only the second in-game field goal attempt of Bates’s life, with his first coming during high school and ending in a miss. Coincidentally, the only longer kick in professional football history, Justin Tucker’s 66-yard field goal for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021, occurred on the same Ford Field surface against the Detroit Lions.
Bates had initially made the kick once during the game, but the Battlehawks called a timeout to ice the kicker, voiding the attempt. He then successfully repeated the feat on his second try. The ball from this historic kick is now on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its “Pro Football Today” exhibit. Bates continued his remarkable season by kicking two more field goals of 60 or more yards: a 62-yard kick against the Birmingham Stallions on April 7 and a 60-yard kick against the Arlington Renegades on May 5. His outstanding performance earned him a spot on the 2024 All-UFL Team, announced on June 5, 2024. His contract with the Panthers was terminated on June 17, 2024, to allow him to sign with an NFL team.
Detroit Lions Era (2024–Present)
On June 18, 2024, Bates signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Lions, fulfilling his dream of playing in the NFL. He became one of only two UFL players to earn a spot on an NFL 53-man roster out of 77 who participated in the league’s 2024 preseason, demonstrating the rarity of his achievement. Bates joined a Lions team that saw immediate value in his leg strength and clutch performance abilities.
Bates wasted no time making an impact with his new team. In Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season, he kicked a 44-yard game-winning field goal to help the Lions defeat the Minnesota Vikings 31–29, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In Week 10 against his former team, the Houston Texans, Bates kicked a 58-yard field goal to tie the game before adding a 52-yard game-winning field goal in a dramatic 26–23 victory. Both kicks narrowly cleared the uprights, showcasing his range and composure under pressure.
The 2024 season had its challenges as well. In Week 13, during the NFL’s Thanksgiving Day game against the Chicago Bears, Bates missed his first career NFL field goal attempt from 45 yards. However, he bounced back strongly in Week 14, kicking a 35-yard field goal to win a close game against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football, securing a playoff spot for the Lions. The highlight of his rookie season came in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers, where Bates broke the Lions’ single-season franchise record for points scored, surpassing the previous record of 134 points set by Jason Hanson in 2012. His performance also gained unintended viral attention when cameras captured his distinctive hip stretching routine during the Monday Night Football broadcast, which he addressed with humor, saying “It’s fun. I understand it.” Bates re-signed with the Lions on March 25, 2026, confirming his long-term role in the team’s future.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bates’s primary strength lies in his exceptional leg strength, which stems from his background as a soccer player. This foundation gave him a powerful kicking leg that allowed him to attempt and convert field goals from distances that exceed the typical NFL range. His ability to generate consistent power on kickoffs, reaching the league-mandated 80-yard requirement in the UFL, demonstrated his unique physical gifts. Bates also showed remarkable composure in high-pressure situations, delivering clutch kicks in crucial moments for both the Panthers and Lions. His partnership with the Lions’ special teams coaching staff helped him refine his technique while maintaining the natural power that makes him distinctive among NFL kickers.
Notable Events and Milestones
The centerpiece of Bates’s career thus far is his 64-yard field goal against the St. Louis Battlehawks on March 30, 2024. This kick not only set the UFL record but also placed him among the elite group of kickers who have made field goals from distances exceeding 60 yards in professional football. The ball from this historic kick is preserved at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, cementing his place in football history. His rookie season with the Lions saw him set the franchise record for points scored by a kicker in a single season, highlighting his immediate impact at the NFL level. Earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice during his debut season further validated his standing as one of the league’s most promising young kickers.
Jake Bates Career Wins
Jake Bates has established himself as a reliable and powerful kicker across both the UFL and NFL levels. His career statistics reflect his accuracy and range, with particular success on long-distance attempts that most kickers cannot attempt. His ability to deliver in clutch situations has resulted in multiple game-winning kicks and significant contributions to his teams’ success.
UFL Highlights
During his time with the Michigan Panthers in the 2024 UFL season, Bates made an immediate and historic impact. His 64-yard game-winning field goal against the St. Louis Battlehawks stands as the longest in UFL history. He followed this with additional 60-plus yard field goals against the Birmingham Stallions (62 yards) and the Arlington Renegades (60 yards). His remarkable leg strength and consistency earned him recognition on the 2024 All-UFL Team. Bates’s performance with the Panthers demonstrated that he could translate his unique physical abilities into sustained success at the professional level.
NFL Highlights
In his rookie NFL season with the Detroit Lions in 2024, Bates appeared in 17 games and converted 53 of 63 field goal attempts (84.1 percent), along with 118 of 123 extra point attempts (95.9 percent), scoring 277 total points. His longest field goal of the season was 59 yards. He recorded 102 touchbacks on kickoffs throughout the season. His most memorable NFL moments include a 44-yard game-winner against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, and a 58-yard field goal followed by a 52-yard game-winner against the Houston Texans in Week 10. He also set the Lions’ single-season scoring record with his performance.
Other Wins and Performances
Prior to his professional career, Bates earned first-team All-SEC honors as a kickoff specialist during his single season at the University of Arkansas in 2022. His ability to consistently kick the ball through the end zone on kickoffs caught the attention of professional scouts and contributed to his opportunities at the next level. His successful transition from college soccer player to professional football kicker, and ultimately to NFL starter, represents an unusual and inspiring career trajectory that highlights his adaptability and dedication to his craft.
Jake Bates Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Specific details about Jake Bates’s family background and racing lineage are not available in verified sources. While his early life in Tomball, Texas, and his path through high school and college are documented, information regarding his parents, extended family, or any athletic lineage is not publicly confirmed at this time.
Personal Life
Jake Bates is a Christian and has spoken openly about his faith as an important part of his life. He is engaged to Presley Folkerts. Bates has gained some measure of cultural recognition beyond football, particularly after his distinctive hip stretching routine was captured during a Monday Night Football broadcast in Week 17 of the 2024 season, generating viral attention on social media. When asked about the unexpected attention, Bates responded with humor and good grace. He is active on social media and maintains an Instagram account where he shares updates about his career and personal life. His journey from undrafted free agent to NFL roster player with a record-setting kick demonstrates his resilience and determination.
2025 Season Performance
Jake Bates entered the 2025 NFL season as the Detroit Lions’ starting placekicker following his impressive rookie campaign. After re-signing with the team on March 25, 2026, Bates is expected to continue his role as a key component of the Lions’ special teams unit. The 2025 season marks his second full year with the organization, providing him an opportunity to build upon his record-setting rookie statistics and further establish himself among the league’s top kickers. His leg strength, clutch performance abilities, and growing experience in high-pressure NFL situations position him as a valuable asset for a Lions team with playoff aspirations. The continuity of working with the same coaching staff and special teams coordinator should benefit his development and consistency throughout the season.