Tyler Bass Bio
Tyler Royce Bass (born February 14, 1997) is an American professional football placekicker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Southern Eagles and was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Over the course of his professional career, Bass has set multiple franchise records and earned conference-level recognition for his work on special teams.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 183 pounds, Bass is regarded as one of the most accurate kickers in Bills history. Through the 2024 season, he had converted 131 of 155 career field goal attempts, a success rate of 84.5 percent. His current contract with the Bills runs through 2027.
Early Life and Background
Tyler Royce Bass was born on February 14, 1997, in Columbia, South Carolina. He grew up in the Irmo area, where he attended Dutch Fork High School. At Dutch Fork, Bass was a multi-sport athlete who played both football and soccer, an experience that helped him build the strong leg that later defined his professional profile.
Bass has credited his grandmother with convincing him to try out for the high school football team because of the powerful kicking ability he had developed as a soccer player. Following his senior season at Dutch Fork, he won the Chris Sailer Award, given annually to the top high school football kicker in the country. On January 31, 2015, Bass committed to Georgia Southern University to continue his football career.
Path to the NFL
After arriving at Georgia Southern, Bass was redshirted during his true freshman year, allowing him time to develop physically and refine his technique. He grew into a reliable specialist for the Eagles, and during his redshirt junior season he made 19 of 21 field goal attempts and connected on all 45 of his extra point tries. His play earned him First-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2018, along with Second-team All-Sun Belt recognition in 2017 and 2019.
Bass also participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl, where he made both of his field goal attempts and all four extra point tries, strengthening his professional resume. His college career at Georgia Southern ran from 2015 through 2019 and laid the foundation for his eventual selection in the 2020 NFL draft.
Tyler Bass Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
The Buffalo Bills selected Bass in the sixth round, 188th overall, of the 2020 NFL draft. He signed a four-year, $3.475 million contract on May 7, 2020. During a shortened training camp affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bass beat out incumbent placekicker Stephen Hauschka to claim the starting job, with Hauschka released on August 27, 2020.
In his professional debut against the New York Jets on September 13, 2020, Bass made all three extra point attempts and connected on two of four field goals. He finished his rookie season converting 28 of 34 field goal attempts and 57 of 59 extra points, totaling 141 points. That total broke Steve Christie’s 1998 franchise record of 140 points in a single season, and Bass also set franchise records for extra points attempted and made in a season.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Bass continued his strong play in 2021, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors for October after converting all 10 of his field goal attempts and every extra point. He finished that season 28 of 32 on field goals and a perfect 51 of 51 on extra points. In 2022, he was again named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, this time for November, and went 27 of 31 on field goals and 48 of 50 on extra points while connecting on all three field goal tries and all five extra points in two postseason games.
On April 20, 2023, Bass signed a four-year, $21 million contract extension with the Bills. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September 2023 and finished the regular season 24 of 29 on field goals and 49 of 50 on extra points. In the Divisional Round of the 2023–24 NFL playoffs against the Kansas City Chiefs, Bass missed a 44-yard attempt that would have tied the game with under two minutes remaining, ending Buffalo’s season. After receiving harassment and death threats, he briefly deactivated his social media accounts before reactivating them on February 15, 2024. Quarterback Josh Allen publicly defended Bass following the loss.
Current Team Era (2024–Present)
In 2024, Bass converted 24 of 29 field goal attempts and 59 of 64 extra point attempts. In Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, he set a new Buffalo Bills franchise record with a 61-yard field goal, drilling the kick with five seconds left in the fourth quarter to give Buffalo a 30–27 victory. The dramatic moment came after Bass had struggled earlier in the same game, missing an extra point and bouncing another attempt off an upright.
Heading into 2025, Bass was placed on injured reserve on September 5 due to hip and groin issues. On December 1, 2025, it was revealed that he had undergone surgery on his left hip and groin, ending his season. The Bills signed veteran placekicker Matt Prater at the start of the year to handle kicking duties in Bass’s absence.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the field, Bass is known for his clean mechanics, repeatable swing, and ability to connect on long-distance kicks under pressure. He has demonstrated particular strength on attempts longer than 50 yards, becoming the first kicker in Bills history to make three field goals longer than 50 yards in a single game. He is also a dedicated practice partner, having driven from South Carolina to Birmingham, Alabama, during his rookie year for weekly sessions with the team’s long snapper and holder.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bass’s most memorable career moments are his 2020 franchise scoring record of 141 points, his 53-yard field goal against the New York Jets in his rookie season, and his record-setting 61-yard walk-off kick against Miami in 2024. He has also earned three AFC Special Teams Player of the Month awards and was a Senior Bowl participant in 2020.
Tyler Bass Career Wins
Tyler Bass has built a strong professional resume since entering the NFL in 2020, ranking among the most accurate kickers in Buffalo Bills history. Across his career, he has converted 131 of 155 field goal attempts and has connected on the vast majority of his extra point tries.
Buffalo Bills Highlights
Since taking over as the Bills’ starting kicker in 2020, Bass has appeared in every regular season and postseason game for the franchise. His most recent full season, 2024, included the 61-yard game-winning field goal against Miami that set a new franchise record for the longest field goal in team history. He has been a central part of multiple Bills playoff runs, including the 2022 postseason and the 2023–24 divisional round appearance.
Other Performances
At the college level, Bass earned First-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2018 and Second-team All-Sun Belt recognition in both 2017 and 2019 while at Georgia Southern. He also participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl, converting all of his field goal and extra point attempts during the event.
Tyler Bass Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Bass has spoken publicly about the influence of his grandmother, who encouraged him to try out for the football team at Dutch Fork High School because of his strong leg developed through years of playing soccer. He also adopted the practice of wearing eye black under only one eye as a tribute to her, a habit he began during his final game at Georgia Southern.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a difficult one for Bass, who was placed on injured reserve on September 5, 2025, due to hip and groin issues. The Bills signed veteran Matt Prater to take over as the team’s placekicker in his absence. On December 1, 2025, the team revealed that Bass had undergone surgery on his left hip and groin, officially ending his season.
Looking beyond 2025, Bass remains under contract with the Bills through 2027 following the four-year, $21 million extension he signed in April 2023. His recovery from surgery will be the key storyline entering the next league year, with the Bills expected to evaluate their long-term kicking plans around his health and return timeline.
