Jake Bates went from brick salesman to game-winner.
The Detroit Lions' big-legged kicker, who took a job with Acme Brick in Northwest Houston before igniting his football career in the spring, nailed 58- and 52-yard field goals to culminate a ridiculous 26-23 comeback against the Texans.
"I think it almost feels too scripted, it's too good to be true," Bates said, per the Houston Chronicle.
Bates' NFL career might also be a pitch laughed at by Hollywood producers.
The Houston-area native grew up playing soccer and joined the football team as a high school senior. He played college soccer at Central Arkansas, then walked on as a kickoff specialist at Texas State, which he parlayed into a similar gig at Arkansas. He never attempted a field goal in college but earned an invite to Texans training camp last year. After eventually getting cut, he took a job as a brick salesman. Then, in December 2023, he tried out for the fledgling United Football League, signing with the Michigan Panthers. There, he dropped bombs, including multiple kicks from 60-plus yards.
Following the spring UFL season, Bates signed with Detroit. It was clear the 25-year-old had a big leg. The question was whether he had the mettle on a big stage. Sneaking two massive kicks inside each upright with the game on the line Sunday answered those questions.
"I've never been hoisted like that," Bates said, via the team website. "That was pretty cool just to see the sidelines come to embrace me and stuff was a cool moment."
Coach Dan Campbell never wavered on his confidence in the rookie kicker, noting that Bates made a similar field goal in practice on Thursday.
"It was the first thing I thought of when I was looking at him ... and I just felt good about it," Campbell said, recalling Thursday's practice. "I just felt like he's going to make it and he did. He stepped up and nailed it."
Sunday night on prime time was Bates' second game-winning field goal of the season. His 58-yarder to tie things up was tied for the third-longest by a Lions player since at least 1960. Bates has made all 14 of his field goal attempts in nine games this season, including three of 50-plus, and 32 of 33 PATs.
Bates' bombs came after Detroit overcame five Jared Goff interceptions, turning a dismal 23-7 halftime deficit into an improbable win.
"I just don't deserve this," Bates said. "I was a soccer player growing up. I idolized football players in the NFL. Just to be here is surreal. I'm still finding myself kind of pinching myself."
