Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has transitioned from selling bricks to deciding NFL games in less than two years, a rapid ascent that defied his own expectations after being cut by the Houston Texans in 2023.
A career path reset in Houston
Before his recent emergence as a clutch performer in the NFL, Bates faced the prospect of leaving football behind entirely. Following his release by the Houston Texans in August 2023, the former college kicker began working in brick sales, believing his professional football aspirations had concluded, BILD reported.
“I thought the dream was dead,” Bates told BILD regarding that period. “I thought football was over, so I had to move on and do something else with my life.”
Bates set UFL records before joining the Detroit Lions
Bates’ return to the sport began in the United Football League (UFL) with the Michigan Panthers. During the 2024 season opener, he converted a 64-yard field goal, a distance that set a UFL record at the time. Throughout that campaign, he successfully kicked seven of his 11 attempts from 50 yards or further, drawing attention from NFL scouts.
The Detroit Lions signed Bates in June 2024. While he was initially brought in to compete for the roster spot alongside Michael Badgley, an offseason injury to Badgley made Bates the primary kicker.
Clutch performances for the Lions
The rookie kicker secured a victory against the Minnesota Vikings in October 2024 by converting a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining. He later returned to Houston, the city where he had previously worked in the construction supply industry, to face the Texans.
In that matchup, Bates tied the game with a 58-yard field goal before connecting on a 52-yard attempt as time expired to secure a 26–23 win for Detroit. Bates remains under contract with the Lions as the team’s primary kicker, tasked with managing high-pressure situations in the final minutes of games.
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