It was just about a year ago when the Detroit Lion’s kicker Jake Bates was selling bricks in Houston, Texas for the Acme Brick company.
“I thought the dream was dead,” he recently said of his fledgling career. “I thought football was done, so I had to move on and do something else with my life. Luckily, the Lord had something else in store.”
That “something else” included booting a game-winning 52-yard field goal last night against the Tamp Bay Buccaneers, an improbable culmination of a contest that also featured him nailing a 58-yarder to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
“I think it almost feels too scripted, it’s too good to be true,” Bates told the Houston Chronicle.
Only it is true – and Bates is using his platform to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
“I think it just shows how good the Lord is,” Bates told Melissa Stark following the NBC Sunday Night Football matchup.
“He’s so faithful. My story is, if anything, I hope people can see Jesus through my story. That’s what I think I’m here to do is – not make or miss or be a good kicker or bad kicker, but spread the love of Jesus. I hope I’m able to do that on the stage I’m given.”
The hometown Bates grew up playing soccer, joined his high school football team as a senior and handled kick-offs at Texas State in college. Short stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans proved unsuccessful, propelling him to find a job selling bricks.
Like many young athletes, though, Jake still had the itch to play. He was signed by the Michigan Panthers of the UFL, demonstrated his mettle by nailing a 64-yard field goal – and eventually signed by the Lions last spring.
The Detroit Lions are 8-1 atop the NFC North. As a kicker, Bates is perfect with 14 attempts making him number one in the league.
Would the Lord still be good if Jake Bates was 0 for 14? Of course. It’s unlikely Bates would still be kicking for the Lions – but a person’s performance certainly doesn’t reflect God’s love or concern for them.
Yet it’s especially gratifying and encouraging to see a good man like Jake Bates point people to the Lord and not to himself.
NFL players, especially, have been increasingly bold in sharing their faith both on and off the field. The Daily Citizen has been following the career of Kansas City Chiefs’ kicker Harrison Butker, a strong believer who has taken considerable heat for espousing pro-life and pro-family views.
Bates is embracing his NFL career with humility and gratefulness.
“I just don’t deserve this,” the rookie kicker said last night. “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.”
Image credit: YouTube
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