Jake Bates Bio
Jake Bates, born on March 3, 1999, is an American professional football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). Before reaching the NFL, he played college soccer for the Central Arkansas Bears and college football for the Texas State Bobcats and Arkansas Razorbacks. Bates holds the record for the longest field goal in United Football League history, a 64-yard kick. He is recognized for a powerful leg and a calm approach under pressure, qualities that helped him move quickly from the spring league back to the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Jake Bates was born in Tomball, Texas, and grew up in the same community where he later attended high school. He graduated from Tomball High School in 2017. During his high school years, Bates was a member of the football team, but he was more prominently a standout in soccer. That background as a soccer player helped build the leg strength and athletic base that would later shape his career as a kicker.
After high school, Bates chose to continue playing soccer at the college level, spending two seasons with the Central Arkansas Bears in 2017 and 2018. Although he was a skilled soccer player, his interest in football never faded. The opportunity to switch sports came when he transferred to play college football at Texas State, where he joined the Bobcats in 2020.
Path to American Football
At Texas State, Bates served primarily as a kickoff specialist and did not handle regular field goal duties. After earning his business degree, he transferred to Arkansas to continue his college football career. Once again, he focused on kickoffs, and his strong performance earned him first-team All-SEC honors as a kickoff specialist in 2022, sharing the recognition with Jack Podlesny.
Despite his success in college, Bates went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed with the Houston Texans on July 31, 2023, but was released during training camp on August 12, 2023. After his release, he briefly stepped away from pursuing football full-time and took a job as a brick salesman in the Houston area.
Jake Bates Career
Early Career (2023)
Bates’s professional football journey began in earnest when he signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League on December 25, 2023. His signing was one of several personnel moves the league made based on kickoff ability, as the UFL adopted a rule requiring the ball travel 80 yards for a touchback, 15 yards longer than other levels of organized football.
Just a few months later, on March 30, 2024, during Week 1 of the 2024 UFL season, Bates made a 64-yard game-winning field goal against the St. Louis Battlehawks. The kick was the longest field goal in the history of both the UFL and its predecessor leagues, surpassing the previous record by five yards. It was the first in-game field goal of his life and is tied as the second-longest recorded field goal in professional football history.
Michigan Panthers Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Bates’s record-breaking kick set the tone for his time with the Michigan Panthers. He went on to kick two more field goals of 60 or more yards during the 2024 UFL season, including a 62-yard kick against the Birmingham Stallions on April 7 and a 60-yard kick against the Arlington Renegades on May 5. The ball from his 64-yard field goal is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its “Pro Football Today” exhibit.
On June 5, 2024, Bates was named to the 2024 All-UFL team. 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. He was one of only two UFL players to make a 53-man NFL roster out of 77 who participated in the league’s 2024 preseason. Bates quickly became a key contributor for the Lions during the 2024 NFL season.
In Week 7, Bates kicked a 44-yard game-winning field goal as the Lions defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31–29, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In Week 10, he kicked a 58-yard field goal against the Houston Texans to tie the game before hitting a 52-yard game-winning kick in a 26–23 victory. In Week 14, his 35-yard field goal against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football secured a playoff spot for Detroit.
In Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers, Bates set the Lions single-season franchise record for points scored, surpassing the previous mark of 134 points set by Jason Hanson in 2012. His strong performances helped establish him as a reliable weapon for the Lions’ special teams unit.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bates’s 64-yard field goal for the Michigan Panthers stands as the defining moment of his career so far, tying as the second-longest field goal in professional football history. His single-season scoring record with the Lions and multiple game-winning kicks during the 2024 NFL season highlight his value as a clutch performer. The display of his record-setting ball at the Pro Football Hall of Fame further cements his place in the sport’s recent history.
Jake Bates Career Wins
Bates’s professional wins include standout performances with the Michigan Panthers in the UFL and game-winning moments with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. His 64-yard kick against the St. Louis Battlehawks remains his most celebrated victory moment, while several field goals for the Lions during the 2024 season helped the team clinch playoff positioning.
UFL Highlights
During the 2024 UFL season with the Michigan Panthers, Bates set the league record for the longest field goal with his 64-yard kick in Week 1. He added two more field goals of 60 or more yards that season, including kicks of 62 and 60 yards. His performances earned him a spot on the 2024 All-UFL team.
NFL Highlights
Bates’s NFL highlights include his 44-yard game-winning field goal against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7 of the 2024 season, his 58-yard and 52-yard kicks against the Houston Texans in Week 10, and his 35-yard kick against the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 that clinched a playoff spot for the Lions. He also set the Lions single-season franchise record for points scored during the same campaign.
Jake Bates Family
Personal Life
Jake Bates is a Christian. He is engaged to Presley Folkerts. Beyond these public details, Bates has kept much of his personal life private as he focuses on his professional football career.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Jake Bates enters his second year under contract with the Detroit Lions. After a record-setting debut campaign in which he became one of the league’s most talked-about kickers, expectations remain high for his continued production. His strong leg and composure in pressure situations make him a key piece of Detroit’s special teams unit.
Bates will look to build on the momentum from his 2024 season, when his late-game kicks helped the Lions secure a playoff berth. With the familiarity of his offensive system and the confidence gained from a full NFL season, he is positioned to remain one of the team’s most reliable scorers. Fans and analysts alike will watch to see whether he can extend his scoring record and add to his growing list of memorable moments.