Ryan Bates Bio
Ryan William Bates (born February 14, 1997) is an American professional football center for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2015 to 2018 before beginning his NFL career as an undrafted free agent. Standing 6 ft 4 in and weighing around 306 lb, Bates has built his reputation as a dependable interior offensive lineman across multiple teams.
Since entering the league in 2019, Bates has appeared in 92 NFL games with 21 starts, contributing as both a guard and a center. He is recognized for his technique, positional flexibility, and steady presence along the offensive line.
Early Life and Background
Ryan William Bates was born on February 14, 1997, in Warminster, Pennsylvania. He was raised alongside his sister Anna by his parents, Theresa Strocen-Bates and Norman Bates. Growing up in the Philadelphia suburbs, Bates developed an early passion for football and trained through local youth programs before entering high school.
Bates attended Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in Warminster Township, Pennsylvania, where he played offensive tackle for the Archbishop Wood Vikings. He quickly established himself as one of the top linemen in the state, helping the Vikings capture the PIAA Class AAA Championship in both 2013 and 2014. His play earned him first-team all-state honors, First-team All-Philadelphia Catholic League recognition in 2013 and 2014, and the 2014 Pennsylvania Football News Lineman of the Year award.
During his senior season in 2015, Bates was selected for the Under Armour All-America Game and served as a co-captain for his team. Both 247Sports and Rivals.com rated him as a four-star recruit, and he received offers from a long list of major programs including Penn State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia, Temple, Miami, Maryland, Duke, Boston College, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Illinois, and South Carolina.
Path to Professional Football
After considering his many scholarship offers, Bates committed to Penn State, where he joined the Nittany Lions as part of the 2015 recruiting class. He redshirted his true freshman year before stepping onto the field in 2016, starting all 14 games as a redshirt freshman while rotating between offensive tackle, left guard, and left tackle. His versatility and consistency earned Big Ten honors, All-American recognition, and Team of the Week selections that season.
As a sophomore in 2017, Bates started 8 of 10 games at left tackle before an injury forced him to miss games against Michigan State, Rutgers, and Nebraska. He returned strong in 2018 as a junior, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors and multiple Big Ten Teams of the Week nods. Off the field, Bates graduated from Penn State with a degree in Labor and Employment Relations, balancing academic progress with a starting role on one of the Big Ten’s most physical offensive lines.
Ryan Bates Career
Early Career (2019)
Bates entered the NFL in 2019 after going undrafted in that year’s draft. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019, beginning his professional journey with the franchise closest to his Pennsylvania hometown. His time in Philadelphia was brief, however, as the Eagles opted to reshape their offensive line depth during training camp.
On August 9, 2019, Bates was traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for linebacker Eli Harold. The move gave him a clearer path to a roster spot and a developmental home along a Bills offensive line that would soon become one of the league’s most productive units.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2019-2023)
Bates spent his first two seasons in Buffalo working primarily as a reserve lineman, contributing on special teams and rotating into games at guard. His perseverance paid off in 2021, when he made his first career start in Week 16 at right guard before shifting to left guard for the final stretch of the regular season and the playoffs. The performance marked his emergence as a reliable option for the Bills’ offensive front.
Heading into the 2022 offseason, Buffalo placed a restricted free agent tender on Bates. On March 24, 2022, the Chicago Bears signed him to an offer sheet, but the Bills matched the deal to retain him, underscoring how highly the organization valued his role. On April 4, 2022, Buffalo signed Bates to a four-year, $17 million contract, locking in a key piece of its line through 2026.
Throughout his time in Buffalo, Bates served as a versatile swing lineman, capable of playing guard or center while protecting franchise quarterback Josh Allen. He appeared in regular-season games each year from 2019 through 2023, contributing to one of the most consistent offensive lines in the AFC.
Chicago Bears Era (2024-Present)
On March 4, 2024, Bates was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round draft pick, bringing veteran experience to a young Bears offensive line. The move signaled Chicago’s commitment to reinforcing its interior as the team continued its rebuild around a developing offense.
His first season in Chicago was interrupted by injury, as Bates was placed on injured reserve on September 14, 2024, before being activated on November 9. Even while managing the setback, he remained a steady presence in the locker room and provided leadership for younger linemen adjusting to the Bears’ system.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bates’s defining professional moments are his consecutive PIAA Class AAA state championships at Archbishop Wood, his 14-game starting debut at Penn State in 2016, and his first NFL start in Week 16 of the 2021 season. His four-year, $17 million extension with the Buffalo Bills in 2022 and his 2024 trade to the Chicago Bears further mark key milestones in his career arc.
Ryan Bates Career Highlights
Across his NFL career, Ryan William Bates has appeared in 92 games with 21 starts, lining up at guard and center for Philadelphia, Buffalo, and Chicago. His résumé includes two Third-team All-Big Ten selections at Penn State and a steady climb from undrafted free agent to multi-year starter.
NFL Highlights
Bates’s most notable NFL stretch came with the Buffalo Bills, where he evolved from a reserve into a trusted starter. His first career start in Week 16 of the 2021 season opened the door to a four-year, $17 million extension in 2022, and he continued to start games in 2022 and 2023 before his trade to Chicago in March 2024.
College and High School Performances
At Archbishop Wood, Bates was a central figure in back-to-back PIAA Class AAA titles in 2013 and 2014 and earned the 2014 Pennsylvania Football News Lineman of the Year award. At Penn State, he was a Third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2017 and 2018 and started 14 games during his redshirt freshman season in 2016.
Ryan Bates Family
Family Background
Ryan William Bates was raised in Warminster, Pennsylvania, by his mother, Theresa Strocen-Bates, and his father, Norman Bates. He grew up alongside his sister, Anna, in a supportive household that encouraged his early commitment to football.
Personal Life
Bates has largely kept his personal life private, focusing public attention on his professional career. He graduated from Penn State with a degree in Labor and Employment Relations, reflecting an interest in life beyond the football field.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Ryan William Bates is firmly part of the Chicago Bears’ offensive line rotation, bringing veteran stability to a young group. After being activated from injured reserve in November 2024, he had the offseason to recover fully and re-establish himself within Chicago’s scheme.
The Bears’ 2025 outlook centers on developing their young quarterback and building a more physical offensive front, areas where Bates’s experience as a former Buffalo Bills starter is expected to play a key role. Coaches have pointed to his versatility as a guard and center as a major asset for weekly game-planning and in-game adjustments.
As the season progresses, Bates will look to build on his career totals of 92 games played and 21 starts while helping anchor a Chicago offensive line aiming to take a meaningful step forward in 2025.
