A year ago, Jake Bates was a sales trainee at a brick company. Today, he’s the Detroit Lions’ starting kicker and the proud face of his own bobblehead night at Ford Field. The journey in between? Nothing short of incredible.
Bates, a former Arkansas Razorback and Texas State soccer player, didn’t even attempt a field goal in college. His football résumé consisted mostly of booming kickoffs—until the Michigan Panthers of the UFL gave him a shot. And boy, did he make it count.
In his first UFL game last spring, Bates drilled a 64-yard game-winner at Ford Field, instantly going viral and grabbing the attention of NFL scouts. That single kick changed his life. The Lions quickly came calling, and after a strong preseason and an unfortunate injury to Michael Badgley, Bates stepped into the spotlight.
And he delivered—again.
He nailed his first 14 NFL field goal attempts, including clutch game-winners, and ended his rookie season 26-of-29 with a long of 58 yards. He also shattered the Lions’ single-season scoring record.
But Jake hasn’t forgotten where he came from. Just last fall, he sat in AT&T Stadium—this time on the field, not the nosebleeds where his family used to watch Cowboys games. “That was a holy-cow moment,” he said, reflecting on how far he’d come.
Off the field, it’s been a whirlwind too. Bates married his longtime sweetheart, Presley Folkerts, and honeymooned in England, fulfilling a lifelong dream of attending a Premier League match.
Now heading into 2025, he’s no longer the underdog. He’s got a secure spot on a Super Bowl contender, and a story that reminds us anything is possible when preparation meets opportunity. As Bates puts it: “A lot of things have changed. I’m feeling super grateful. I’m just going to enjoy the ride.”
It’s safe to say—he made the right call leaving the brick business.
Jake Bates Went from UFL Long Shot to Lions Star in Just One Year
