With the 2024 UFL season in the books, players who participated in the league are now free to sign with NFL teams. And the Detroit Lions were clearly paying attention.
On Tuesday, the Lions announced they have signed kicker Jake Bates, who spent the UFL season with the Michigan Panthers. Despite primarily being a kickoff specialist throughout his college career at Texas State and Arkansas, the 2022 first-team All-SEC selection became a breakout star during the UFL’s inaugural season thanks to his booming field goal tries.
It didn’t take long for Bates to establish a reputation for himself, either, nailing a 64-yard game-winning field goal in the Panthers’ Week 1 victory over the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Jake Bates, a kickoff specialist, hadn’t attempted a field goal since high school.
He just hit a game-winning 64-YARD field goal for the Panthers…
And he did it twice 🔥🦵 pic.twitter.com/7uL2QGEZoG
— United Football League (@TheUFL) March 30, 2024
Bates proceeded to make seven field goal attempts of at least 50 yards or longer, including three makes over 60 yards. For his efforts, he was named a first-team All-UFL selection in what marked the first season of the league that formed as a result of a merger between the XFL and USFL.
The Lions reportedly signed Bates to a two-year deal, which would seemingly indicate that they are adding him to their roster beyond a tryout basis. Detroit waived kicker James Turner in a corresponding move, leaving Michael Badgley as the only other kicker on the Detroit roster.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.