Jake Bates

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

• NFC Special Teams Player of the Month: November (2024)
• NFC Special Teams Player of the Week: 2024 (Week 7, Week 10)
• Made 19 consecutive field goals to start his career, the second-longest streak of field goals made to start a career in NFL history.
• Produced 142 points scored in 2024, establishing a new franchise record. This also tied for the fourth-most points scored in a player's debut season in NFL history.
• Registered seven games with at least 10 points scored in 2024, tied for the second-most in the NFL that season and ranking as the second-most in franchise history. It also tied for the second-most 10-point games by a kicker in a debut season in NFL history.
• Notched four go-ahead and/or game-tying field goals in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime in 2024, tying for the NFL lead.
• In Week 10 at the Texans (11/10/2024), he converted a 58-yard game-tying field goal and a walk-off, game-winning 52-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, becoming the first player in NFL history to kick a 55-plus yard game-tying field goal and a 50-plus yard game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter of the same game
• Converted four-of-four field goals (100.0%) and five-of-five extra points (100.0%) to log 17 points scored in Week 6 of the 2024 season at the Cowboys (10/13/2024), tying for the third-most points a Lions kicker has scored in a game.
• Kicked the game-winning 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left in Week 7 of the 2024 season at the Vikings (10/20/2024), the first game-winner of his career.
• Played one season with the Michigan Panthers (2024) of the UFL, connecting on 17-of-22 (77.0%) field goal attempts to produce 51 points, the second most in the UFL. He went three-of-three on field goals over 60 yards, including a 64-yarder.
• Selected to the 2024 All-UFL Team.

COLLEGE:

• Played one season at Arkansas (2022) and two seasons at Texas State (2020-21) handling kickoffs. In his senior year, he led the SEC and finished fourth nationally with an average of 64.47 yards per kickoff. He also led the FBS in touchback percentage (85.3%), with 64-of-75 kickoffs resulting in a touchback.
  • 2022 First-Team All-SEC (kickoff specialist)

PERSONAL:

• Prior to playing football, he played soccer for Central Arkansas, leading the team to its second straight MVC Championship title after scoring their lone goal (2018).
• Earned All-District First Team and District 20-5A Offensive MVP in soccer at Tomball (Texas) High School (2016).