HOUSTON — Before he was kicking a game-winning field goal against his hometown team, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates had almost given up on his dream of playing professional football over 18 months ago.
Bates hit a 52-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Lions to a 26-23 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday Night Football at NRG Stadium.
Following the game, the Tomball, Texas, native shared how his faith led him to his success in the NFL.
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“I think it just shows how good the Lord is,” Bates said in the postgame interview. “He is so faithful, and my story, if anything, I hope people can see Jesus through my story.”
Bates said in a previous interview that he had been working as a brick salesman just over 18 months ago in the Houston area before signing on with the Lions.
“Eighteen months ago, I thought I was done with football. I was working as a brick salesman in Houston. I thought the dream was dead,” Bates told reporters in October. “How good the Lord is in my life. He has opened and closed doors for me to lead me here in such a great situation with this coaching staff, front office, and teammates. I couldn’t have even dreamt of this.”
His career path to the NFL has been a winding one, going back to his days at Tomball High School.
Bates earned All-District First Team and District 20-5A Offensive MVP honors when he was at Tomball High School. However, it was in soccer, not football.
He went on to play soccer for two seasons at Central Arkansas, starting 29 of 36 games in his two-year career.
After that, Bates transferred to Texas State in San Marcos, where he made the team as a kickoff specialist, meaning he did not work with the field goal unit. There, he played in 24 games for the Bobcats, handling the kickoff duties.
For his senior season, Bates headed back to Arkansas, but this time with the Razorbacks.
In 2022, he earned First-Team All-SEC honors as a kickoff specialist.
After his college career was over, Bates went undrafted and tried out for the Texans during the 2023 preseason but did not make the final cut.
Bates went on to play with the Michigan Panthers in the United Football League.
Then in June of this year, he signed a two-year deal with Detroit. This season, Bates is 14 of 14 on field goals, including three from 50 yards or more.
His performance against the Texans Sunday night earned him a game ball from head coach and fellow Texas native Dan Campbell.