A United Football League kicker who hadnt attempted a field goal in a game since high school made a 64-yarder to win his teams opening matchup and immediately drew interest from the NFL. (Watch the video below.)
Jake Bates was living a long shots dream after leading the Michigan Panthers to an 18-16 last-seconds victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks in the opening weekend of the pro football spring league a merger between the XFL and USFL.
64 YARDS FOR THE WIN
JAKE BATES WITH A BOOT FOR @USFLPANTHERS pic.twitter.com/nx25x1PEIK
64 YARDS FOR THE WIN
UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
JAKE BATES WITH A BOOT FOR @USFLPANTHERS pic.twitter.com/nx25x1PEIK
I prepared for this moment, Bates told Fox after his mighty boot, which the Detroit Free Press said was tied for the second longest field goal ever in pro football.
The star kicker, Jake Bates, talks with @Jbooty88 after his 64-yard field goal led to a @USFLPanthers win! pic.twitter.com/0jPQdYwcwA
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Lions","slug":"detroit-lions","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/detroit-lions","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/detroit-lions","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/detroit-lions"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"Detroit Lions","slug":"detroit-lions","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/detroit-lions"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">The star kicker, Jake Bates, talks with @Jbooty88 after his 64-yard field goal led to a @USFLPanthers win! pic.twitter.com/0jPQdYwcwA
UFL (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
Bates feat at Ford Field in Detroit may have had an immediate impact on his career. The stadiums main resident, the Detroit Lions, have inquired about him, as have several other NFL teams, Tony Paul of the Detroit News reported Sunday .
What makes the story more remarkable is that Bates, who obviously has a powerful leg, never attempted a field goal in college. He played soccer at Central Arkansas and was a kickoff specialist at Texas State and Arkansas .
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The Tomball, Texas, native appeared in a 2023 preseason game as an undrafted rookie for the Houston Texans but did not make the team.
But now hes really got the attention of the NFL.
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