Jake Bates is an American professional football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. Born on March 3, 1999, in Tomball, Texas, he played college soccer for the Central Arkansas Bears before transitioning to college football with the Texas State Bobcats and Arkansas Razorbacks. After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft and a brief stint with the Houston Texans, Bates signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League, where he set the league’s all-time record with a 64-yard field goal now displayed at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This news archive tag gathers articles, interviews, and updates covering his UFL breakthrough, NFL game-winning kicks, 2024 All-UFL selection, Detroit Lions franchise points record, and continued performance through the 2025 season.
