He was selling bricks. Not metaphorical bricks—actual, heavy, industrial bricks in Houston, Texas. A year and a half before he was staring down the uprights at NRG Stadium with the weight of Detroit on his shoulders, Jake Bates was a guy whose football career looked like a closed book.
He hadn't even kicked a field goal in a real game since high school. Think about that for a second. Most NFL kickers have been "the guy" since they were twelve. They went to the specialized camps, played for big-time programs, and spent four years in college perfecting their craft. Bates? He was a soccer player at Central Arkansas who eventually transferred to Arkansas just to handle kickoffs. He was a specialist within a specialty.
Then the UFL happened. Then a 64-yarder happened. And honestly, the Detroit Lions kicker Bates might be the most "Detroit" story on a roster already full of them.
The Brick Salesman Who Could Kick 60 Yards
People love to talk about the "overnight success," but Bates is the literal definition of the grind. After being cut by the Houston Texans in the 2023 preseason, he didn't just sit on the couch waiting for the phone to ring. He got a job. He worked at Acme Brick.
When the Michigan Panthers of the UFL called, they didn't even necessarily want him as their primary scoring threat. They wanted his leg for the new kickoff rules. The UFL adopted a rule requiring the ball to go 80 yards for a touchback, and Bates had the kind of violent, explosive leg strength that could actually make that happen.
🔗 Read more: Liz Cambage Leak: What Really Happened With the WNBA Star's OnlyFans
Then came Week 1. Ford Field.
With three seconds left, the Panthers were down 16-15. They sent Bates out for a 64-yard field goal attempt. He hadn't kicked a field goal in a game since 2017. He nailed it. Then, because the other team called a timeout to "ice" him, he had to do it again. He nailed that one too.
That 64-yarder didn't just win a spring league game. It was a flare sent up to every NFL scout who had ignored him. It was tied for the second-longest kick in professional football history. The only person with a longer one? Justin Tucker, who hit a 66-yarder on that very same field against—of all teams—the Detroit Lions.
Why the Detroit Lions Kicker Bates is Different
The Lions signed him to a two-year, $1.98 million deal in June 2024. Most fans thought he’d just be "camp competition" for Michael Badgley. But when Badgley went down with a season-ending injury, the job became Bates’ by default.
There was a lot of skepticism. Dan Campbell is a coach who famously hates settling for three points. He'd rather go for it on 4th-and-goal from the 5 than trust a kicker he doesn't know. But Bates changed that calculus.
The Texas Homecoming
If you want to see what "clutch" looks like, look at Week 10 of the 2024 season. The Lions were in Houston, Bates' hometown. They were trailing 23-7 at the half. Jared Goff had thrown five interceptions. It was a disaster.
Bates stepped up and hit a 58-yarder to tie the game with five minutes left. Then, as time expired, he lined up for a 52-yarder to win it.
The ball barely stayed inside the upright. It was so close that if there had been a light breeze, it might have hooked. But it went through. He became the first kicker in NFL history to hit a 55+ yarder to tie and a 50+ yarder to win in the same fourth quarter.
He didn't celebrate like a guy who just won the Super Bowl. He looked relieved. He looked like a guy who remembers exactly what it feels like to sell bricks for a living.
The Stats: More Than Just a Big Leg
By the time the 2025 season rolled around, Bates had cemented himself. While he’s known for the long-distance bombs, his reliability in the "bread and butter" range is what kept him on the roster.
- 2024 Season: He went 26-for-29 on field goals. That's nearly 90%.
- The Streak: He started his career with 19 consecutive makes, the second-longest streak to start a career in NFL history.
- The Franchise Record: In late 2025, he broke Jason Hanson’s single-season scoring record (134 points) during a game against the 49ers.
It hasn't been perfect. He missed a 45-yarder against Chicago on Thanksgiving in 2024—his first NFL miss. He also had a 65-yard attempt at Soldier Field that fell short. But in a league where kickers are often treated like disposable parts, Bates has become a fixture.
👉 See also: NFL Baltimore Ravens Score: What Really Happened in the Season Finale
What Most People Get Wrong
There’s this idea that Bates is just a "power kicker." People see the 60-yard highlights and assume he’s a wild horse—huge leg, no control.
Actually, his technique is remarkably compact. Because he comes from a soccer background (playing for the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears), his approach to the ball is more about "pure" contact than raw force. He’s 5'10" and 200 pounds. He isn't some massive athlete; he’s a guy who understands the physics of a ball.
Another misconception? That Dan Campbell doesn't trust him.
The reality is that Campbell's "aggressiveness" is often about math, not a lack of faith in the kicker. In 2025, the Lions actually took more field goals in the 40-49 yard range than they did in the previous two years. Having Jake Bates means that "no man's land"—the area between the opponent's 35 and 45-yard lines—is no longer a forced 4th-down go-for-it situation. It's a scoring opportunity.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the Lions or looking at Bates for your fantasy roster, keep these nuances in mind:
- Indoor vs. Outdoor: Bates is a dome specialist. His best kicks have come at Ford Field and NRG Stadium. In the wind at Soldier Field or Lambeau, his accuracy dips slightly, especially on those 50+ yard attempts.
- The "Narrow" uprights: Bates has a tendency to kick "paint-shakers"—balls that go through just inside the poles. It’s heart-attack material for fans, but a make is a make.
- Kickoff Value: Don't ignore his touchback rate. In 2025, he remained one of the top specialists for pinning teams deep, which is crucial for a Lions defense that likes to play aggressive, "bend-but-don't-break" football.
Bates represents the new era of NFL specialists: guys who didn't take the traditional path but have the "X-factor" that shows up when the lights are brightest. He isn't just a kicker; he's a symbol of why you don't give up on the dream, even when you're literally selling the building blocks of someone else's house.
📖 Related: Who Won the Texans Game Today: New England Patriots Top Houston in AFC Divisional Duel
Moving forward, the focus for Bates will be consistency in late-season, outdoor games. If he can master the December winds in the NFC North, he won't just be a great story—he'll be a Hall of Fame contender.
Watch his plant foot during the pre-game warmups next time the Lions are away. If he’s comfortable with the turf, Detroit is usually in for a high-scoring day.