Jessie Bates Bio
Jessie Bates III is an American professional football safety for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Born on February 26, 1997, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable defensive backs since entering the NFL in 2018. Across his career, he has earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition while playing in a Super Bowl and multiple deep postseason runs.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 209 pounds, Bates combines coverage instincts with run-support toughness. After beginning his NFL journey with the Cincinnati Bengals, he signed a long-term deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, where he continues to anchor the secondary.
Early Life and Background
Jessie Bates III grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he attended Snider High School. A multi-sport athlete, he played both football and basketball during his high school years. His early athletic foundation in Fort Wayne helped shape the discipline and competitive edge that would later define his professional career.
Bates is the son of his single mother, Theresa, and has six siblings, including his older sister Aaliyah, younger brother Von, and step-siblings Donavan, Nate, Kameron, and Ariana. He originally committed to play college football for the Toledo Rockets before flipping his commitment to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in February 2015.
Path to American Football
After arriving at Wake Forest in 2015, Bates redshirted his first year to develop physically and learn the defensive system. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, he played in all 13 games, recording 100 tackles, five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 18 punt returns for 73 yards, and one forced fumble. That breakout season earned him USA Today Freshman All-America honors, Second-team All-ACC recognition, and a spot on the ACC All-Freshman First-team.
In 2017, as a redshirt sophomore, Bates played in 11 of 13 games due to injury and continued to produce, tallying 79 tackles, five pass deflections, one forced fumble, and a punt return touchdown. On January 4, 2018, he announced his decision to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the 2018 NFL Draft, where he was widely projected as a second- or third-round pick.
Jessie Bates Career
Early Career (2018)
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Jessie Bates III in the second round (54th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, making him the fourth safety taken that year. He signed a four-year, $4.94 million rookie contract that included $2.38 million in guarantees. Although he entered training camp as a backup, Bates quickly impressed the coaching staff and was named the de facto free safety after George Iloka was released in August.
As a rookie, Bates started all 16 games and led the Bengals with 111 combined tackles (73 solo), three interceptions, seven pass deflections, and one touchdown. His first career interception came against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, and he later scored his first touchdown on a 21-yard pick-six against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, signaling a strong start to his NFL career.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2018-2022)
Bates remained the Bengals’ starting free safety through 2022, developing into one of the league’s most respected coverage defenders. In 2019, he started all 17 games and recorded 100 tackles, three interceptions, and nine pass deflections. His 2020 campaign was even stronger: he posted 109 tackles, 13 pass deflections, three interceptions, and one forced fumble, earning Second-team All-Pro honors and a 90.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest among all qualified safeties.
The 2021 season was highlighted by the Bengals’ run to Super Bowl LVI. Although Bates battled a neck injury and missed one game, he started every other contest and recorded an interception in the Wild Card, Divisional, AFC Championship, and Super Bowl, becoming a key figure in Cincinnati’s postseason success. In 2022, he played under the franchise tag, finishing with 71 tackles, four interceptions, and eight pass deflections while helping the Bengals return to the AFC Championship Game.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2023-Present)
On March 16, 2023, the Atlanta Falcons signed Jessie Bates III to a four-year, $64.02 million contract that included $36 million in guarantees and an $18 million signing bonus. Named the starting free safety under head coach Arthur Smith and defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, Bates quickly delivered a career-best season in 2023, starting all 17 games and posting 132 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a career-best 99.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
His standout moments included a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints and a career-high six interceptions on the year. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection and a Second-team All-Pro nod. In 2024, under new defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, Bates continued to produce with 102 tackles, four interceptions, and ten pass deflections, including a 55-yard pick-six against the New York Giants and his first career sack on Jayden Daniels.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jessie Bates III is widely regarded as a cerebral, rangy safety with exceptional football instincts. He excels in single-high coverage, where his read-and-react ability allows him to break on routes and close throwing windows quickly. His tackling reliability in the open field and his ability to generate turnovers make him a three-down defender who can impact both the run and pass game.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Bates’s career came in Super Bowl LVI, where he intercepted Matthew Stafford in the end zone during the second quarter. He has also earned multiple NFC Defensive Player of the Week awards, set career highs in tackles and interceptions during his 2023 season, and was ranked among his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list in both 2024 and 2025.
Jessie Bates Career Wins
Jessie Bates III has been part of multiple winning seasons and postseason runs, including a Super Bowl appearance with the Bengals in 2021 and back-to-back AFC Championship Game trips in 2021 and 2022. With the Falcons, he helped anchor a defense that produced key wins during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Atlanta Falcons Highlights
Since joining Atlanta in 2023, Jessie Bates III has started all 34 regular-season games and earned two NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. His 2023 season included a 92-yard interception return touchdown against the New Orleans Saints, a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1, and a 22-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024 sealed by a late interception.
Other Wins & Performances
With the Cincinnati Bengals, Jessie Bates III started 82 regular-season games across five seasons, recording 13 interceptions, 50 pass deflections, and 480 combined tackles. He earned PFWA All-Rookie honors in 2018 and Second-team All-Pro recognition in 2020, establishing himself as one of the most consistent young safeties in the NFL.
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Jessie Bates Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jessie Bates III was raised by his single mother, Theresa, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has six siblings, including older sister Aaliyah, younger brother Von, and step-siblings Donavan, Nate, Kameron, and Ariana, and credits his family with grounding him throughout his football journey.
Personal Life
Bates maintains a strong connection to his hometown of Fort Wayne, where he played football and basketball at Snider High School. He continues to be active off the field and remains one of the recognizable faces of the Atlanta Falcons defense.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Jessie Bates III remains a central figure in the Atlanta Falcons’ secondary. Following two productive seasons in Atlanta and a top-100 ranking by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025, expectations remain high for the veteran safety. He will be paired once again with strong safety Justin Simmons under defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, a partnership that yielded four interceptions and ten pass deflections in 2024.
The Falcons will look to Bates to provide leadership and turnover production as they aim to return to the postseason. With his contract running through 2026, stability at the safety position is one of the team’s clearest strengths heading into the new campaign.
Bates’s combination of experience, range, and ball skills will be critical against a competitive NFC South. If he can replicate his 2023 form, the Falcons’ defense will have a true backbone for another deep run.