Jake Bates Bio
Jake Bates, born on March 3, 1999, in Tomball, Texas, is an American professional football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. 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. Known for his powerful leg and calm approach in high-pressure moments, he has quickly become one of the most talked-about young kickers in the league.
Listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 202 pounds, Bates brings an unusual athletic background to the kicking game, having transitioned from collegiate soccer before finding his professional stride on the football field. His career has been defined by record-breaking kicks and a steady rise through alternative football leagues into a prominent role with Detroit.
Early Life and Background
Jake Bates was raised in Tomball, Texas, where he attended Tomball High School and graduated in 2017. During his high school years, he was a member of the football team, but he was more prominently recognized as a standout performer in soccer. His background as a skilled soccer player helped shape the striking technique that later became one of his defining traits as a kicker.
Growing up in Texas, a state with deep football traditions, Bates was surrounded by the sport from an early age. Still, his earliest competitive focus was on the pitch rather than the gridiron. That blend of soccer footwork and football culture set the foundation for his future path in kicking.
Path to American Football
After high school, Bates played two seasons of college soccer at the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 and 2018. Seeking a new athletic challenge, he transferred to Texas State in 2020 to play college football, where he initially only handled kickoff duties. He spent two seasons with the Bobcats before earning his business degree in 2022 and moving on to the University of Arkansas.
At Arkansas, Bates once again focused on kickoffs and was named first-team All-SEC as a kickoff specialist in 2022, sharing the honor with Jack Podlesny. His ability to drive the ball deep into the end zone caught the attention of professional scouts, even though he had attempted only a handful of field goals at that stage of his career. This college journey marked the transition from a former college soccer player to a serious professional kicking prospect.
Jake Bates Career
Early Career (2023)
After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Jake Bates signed with the Houston Texans on July 31, 2023. He was released during training camp on August 12, 2023. Following his release, he briefly stepped away from pursuing football full-time and took a job as a brick salesman in the Houston area.
That detour did not last long. On December 25, 2023, Bates signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League. The Panthers were one of several UFL teams that targeted kickers with strong kickoff abilities, as the league had adopted a kickoff rule requiring the ball to travel 80 yards for a touchback, 15 yards longer than at other organized levels of football.
Michigan Panthers Breakthrough (2023–2024)
Bates made an immediate impact in the UFL. On March 30, 2024, during Week 1 of the 2024 UFL season, he drilled a game-winning 64-yard field goal against the St. Louis Battlehawks. That kick set the record for the longest field goal in the history of the UFL and its predecessor leagues, surpassing the previous mark by five yards. It was the first in-game field goal of his life, and it is tied as the second-longest recorded field goal in professional football history.
He continued to deliver distance throughout the 2024 season, adding 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 historic 64-yard kick is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its Pro Football Today exhibit. He was named to the 2024 All-UFL team on June 5, 2024, before his contract with the Panthers was terminated on June 17, 2024, so he could sign with an NFL team.
Detroit Lions Era (2024–Present)
On June 18, 2024, Jake Bates signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Lions. He was one of only two UFL players to make an NFL 53-man roster out of 77 who participated in the 2024 preseason. His arrival in Detroit marked the beginning of his ascent to national prominence.
In Week 7 of the 2024 season, 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 honors. In Week 10, he nailed 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, with both attempts barely passing through the uprights on opposite sides. In Week 14, his 35-yard field goal on Thursday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers secured a playoff spot for Detroit. In Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers, he set the Lions single-season franchise record for points scored, surpassing the previous mark of 134 set by Jason Hanson in 2012. On March 25, 2026, Bates re-signed with the Lions.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bates is recognized for his exceptional leg strength, particularly on kickoffs and long field goal attempts. His soccer background gives him a smooth, repeatable striking motion, and his calm demeanor in high-leverage situations has been a key factor in his early success. Coaches have praised his work ethic and his ability to deliver in clutch moments, which has made him a reliable option in the Lions’ kicking game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bates’s 64-yard field goal for the Michigan Panthers stands as the defining moment of his early professional career, a kick now preserved at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His multiple game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions during the 2024 season, along with the franchise points record, established him as one of the league’s most exciting young kickers.
Jake Bates Career Wins
Jake Bates has built a résumé defined by record-breaking kicks and game-winning moments across multiple professional football leagues. From the United Football League to the National Football League, his accuracy and range have translated into some of the most memorable field goals in recent memory.
UFL Highlights
During the 2024 UFL season, Bates set the league’s all-time record with his 64-yard field goal against the St. Louis Battlehawks in Week 1. He added two more field goals of 60 or more yards that season, a 62-yarder against the Birmingham Stallions and a 60-yarder against the Arlington Renegades. He was recognized with a selection to the 2024 All-UFL team.
Other Wins and Performances
In his lone NFL preseason with the Houston Texans in 2023, Bates did not see regular-season action before being released in training camp. His subsequent UFL performance with the Michigan Panthers and his All-UFL honor in 2024 served as the springboard for his return to the NFL ranks.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NFL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jake Bates Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jake Bates grew up in Tomball, Texas, and attended Tomball High School, where he developed as a multi-sport athlete. Public information about his parents and broader family is limited.
Personal Life
Bates is a Christian. He is engaged to Presley Folkerts. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 202 pounds, he has built his professional life in the football markets of Houston, Michigan, and Detroit.
2025 Season Performance
Jake Bates entered the 2025 NFL season as the established placekicker for the Detroit Lions following a stellar 2024 campaign. He carried forward momentum from his record-setting debut season, including the franchise single-season points record set the previous year. The Lions leaned on his strong leg for both field goals and kickoff duties as they pushed for another playoff run.
Throughout 2025, Bates continued to be a reliable presence in the kicking game, and his prior game-winning experience provided confidence to teammates and coaches in close contests. He remained a core part of Detroit’s special teams unit heading into the later stages of the season.
Heading into the 2025 playoff picture, the Lions viewed Bates as a key weapon in tight games, and he was expected to be central to the team’s postseason outlook. His combination of range, accuracy, and poise under pressure positioned him as one of the young standouts at his position across the league.
