This offseason, the Detroit Lions took a flier on UFL kicker Jake Bates. Thus far, that's proving to be a smart investment.
Trailing the Minnesota Vikings 29-28 with 0:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, Bates drilled a 44-yard field-goal attempt, helping the Lions secure a 31-29 win and avoid a near disaster.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Lions running back David Montgomery fumbled with Detroit leading 28-23. Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. scooped it up and returned it for a 36-yard touchdown to flip the advantage.
After the Lions and Vikings exchanged subsequent punts, Detroit quarterback Jared Goff engineered an eight-play, 44-yard drive, which set up Bates' winning field-goal attempt.
According to Ahmad Garnett of the Detroit Free Press, Bates — a Tomball, Texas, native — was a former soccer player at Central Arkansas and played only one year of high school football.
Following a two-year stint at Central Arkansas, he quit soccer and switched to football. He played three seasons at Texas State and Arkansas, but handled kickoff duties and never attempted a field goal in his college career.
In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans cut the former undrafted free agent.
Despite his lack of experience and unimpressive resume, the Michigan Panthers signed him in 2024. He made a 64-yard winning field-goal attempt in their season opener and finished second in the UFL in kicking points (51) in 10 games.
That success has translated to the NFL. Through his first six games, Bates has made 9-of-9 field-goal attempts. His precise kicking is one reason the Lions (5-1) are first in the NFC North.
