How the UFL propelled Lions kicker Jake Bates to NFL success

DETROIT — Dave Fipp obtained a random textual content message on Saturday, March 30, 2024.

“Hey man, did you see that kick?” a buddy wrote.

Fipp hadn’t. However the Detroit Lions particular groups coordinator did not take lengthy to discover a clip.

The kick occurred at Ford Subject, the house of the Lions, within the Michigan Panthers’ 2024 UFL season opener in opposition to the St. Louis Battlehawks.

Jake Bates, who was within the midst of his first yr as a brick salesman in Houston, trotted on the turf with eight seconds remaining and calmly drilled a 64-yard, game-winning subject objective. It was second-longest kick in professional soccer historical past and put the brand new United Soccer League on the map.

The Panthers received an 18-16 victory, and Bates received Fipp’s consideration.

“That was the primary time that I had heard about him after which clearly that yr he had an important yr and so that you appeared on the tape, you watched extra about him,” Fipp mentioned.

Bates’ resolution to hitch the UFL would show to be life-changing. It was finally a springboard to signal with the Lions, who went on to win a franchise report 15 video games final season, many with the assistance of their new kicker. He hit three game-winning subject objectives, made his first 19 subject objectives and missed inside 50 yards solely as soon as all season.

“That league did for me what it is constructed for,” Bates mentioned. “It is constructed to offer individuals a stage and I used to be in a position to get that stage and with out that I am not right here. So, I owe a lot to the UFL and to the Panthers. Something I can do to assist that league, I am on board with.

“I am not clearly probably the most energetic particular person on like social media or something, so so far as like pumping stuff out posting, I am in all probability not that man. However I am tremendous grateful for them, and so if they should use me a bit bit to get some hype across the league that I feel is so good, I am all on board for that.”

MONTHS PRIOR TO the beginning of the 2024 UFL season, Bates wanted a job — any job. And he wanted one quick.

He thought his NFL dream was over after he went undrafted popping out of Arkansas in 2023 and was reduce by the Houston Texans in coaching camp that August. It was shortly thereafter that he approached industrial gross sales supervisor David Sterne on the Acme Brick firm in Houston in search of work.

“We had been excited to interview him when he got here in after which simply attending to know him, he is an actual good household man,” Sterne mentioned. “He mainly was studying the ropes right here and operating brick samples to individuals and all that stuff.”

Bates joined Acme in December 2023 and started coaching to be a brick salesman. He obtained a name from veteran agent Marty Magid of MRM Sports activities in February 2024 a couple of shot to play for the Panthers. Bates jumped at it.

“I expressed my perception about Jake’s leg to many groups,” Magid mentioned. “We went on a journey for certain.”

In a matter of weeks, Bates would transition from delivering brick samples to clients, often sitting on the entrance desk and displaying clients across the Acme showroom to nailing game-winning kicks.

Bates earned All-UFL honors after making that Week 1 splash in opposition to St. Louis. He proceeded to signal a two-year, $1.98 million deal as a free agent with the Lions in June after his lone season within the UFL and proved to be Detroit’s greatest offseason addition. He was named the NFC Particular Groups Participant of the Month in November 2024 — a month during which he was the one participant to transform 4 subject objectives of 50-plus yards.

His 142 factors final season had been a Lions franchise report. He went 26 of 29 (89.7%) on subject objectives, tying him with franchise nice Jason Hanson (1997, 26 of 29) for one of the best single-season subject objective share (min. 25 makes an attempt) in Lions historical past.

He was 4 of 4 on game-tying or go-ahead subject objectives within the remaining two minutes of regulation and additional time. Solely Arizona’s Chad Ryland was in a position to match that, per ESPN Analysis.

“The one factor that he has all the time performed is when he received into video games, whether or not it is Kansas Metropolis within the preseason, there is a clutch state of affairs, he is performed large in large moments for us and that is an essential high quality at that place,” Fipp mentioned. “You possibly can miss some kicks alongside the way in which, however you need to make the large ones.”

Bates’ highlights included a 44-yard subject objective with 15 seconds remaining to assist Detroit safe a Week 7 victory in Minnesota and a 38-yarder as time expired to beat Inexperienced Bay in Week 14.

Delivering in these important moments helped Bates earn the belief of his teammates, together with veteran quarterback Jared Goff, who described it as “nice” to witness him blossom all through his first NFL season.

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Jake Bates walks it off for Panthers with 42-yard FG

Jake Bates knocks by a 42-yard game-winning subject objective to defeat the Renegades.

“He is grown up as nicely and it is enjoyable to see him make these performs, it is enjoyable to see him make these kicks and make them in large spots this yr, he actually has,” Goff mentioned on Dec. 26. “He is received such an excellent keel about him you could’t appear to rattle him, and that is what you need in your kicker.

“You don’t need a man that is excessive or low, and I do know he is very assured in himself and we’re assured in him and count on him to make some large kicks as we go on.”

Sterne was in attendance at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Nov. 10 when the Tomball, Texas, native added to his spotlight reel. Bates made a 58-yard subject objective to tie the sport at 23 with 5:01 to play then made a 52-yarder as time expired to assist the Lions overcome a 16-point deficit and beat the Texans 26-23.

“I received chills when he kicked that subject objective,” Sterne mentioned.

Bates’ storybook path to NFL stardom is now one thing that Sterne and people within the Acme Brick Firm’s workplace take delight in.,

And if the NFL does not work, Sterne says Bates will all the time have a spot ready.

“It was like straight out of a film. I feel again to the film about Kurt Warner and his profession and the way he was bagging groceries and out of the sport and the way he got here again to be the Tremendous Bowl MVP,” Sterne mentioned. “It will not be on that scale, however Jake’s is fairly shut.”