ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) 鈥 Jake Bates 鈥痺as standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the鈥 Detroit Lions.
Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus in鈥 鈥痑fter lifting the Lions to a win over the Texans with a 52-yard field goal as time expired.
A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his Christian faith.
鈥淭his doesn鈥檛 happen without Jesus and by this, I mean any of this, like, living doesn鈥檛 happen without Jesus dying on the cross,鈥 Bates said recently at the team鈥檚 practice facility. 鈥淗e put us on a stage to glorify his name.鈥
罢丑别鈥 鈥痠s filled with players and coaches who feel the same way.
蚕耻补谤迟别谤产补肠办蝉鈥 鈥痮f Houston,鈥 鈥痮f Atlanta and鈥 鈥痮f Baltimore along with Ravens coach鈥 鈥痑re among the many in the league who speak publicly about their Christian beliefs.
Stroud, in particular, has been a source of inspiration for Bates. He especially admires how the quarterback regularly credits Jesus at press conferences.
鈥淲hat he鈥檚 been able to do in the media and spreading Jesus鈥 love has been awesome to see,鈥 Bates said.
Harbaugh started his latest postgame news conference, reminding reporters and anyone watching or listening that Christmas was coming up and shared the prayer the Ravens had just heard in the locker room.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big football week, all right? It鈥檚 also a big life week,鈥 Harbaugh said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big spiritual week.鈥
Cousins has professed his faith publicly, dating back to his college years at Michigan State and continuing in the NFL with Washington, Minnesota and the Falcons.
鈥淲e all have a platform,鈥 Cousins said earlier this month. 鈥淲e all try to steward it the best we can. I just want to be able to give a reason to people who ask for the hope that I have.
Although Christianity is the dominate religion at all levels of the sport, some Jewish and Muslim players have also used their platform to publicly share their faith. Recently, for example, became the first Jewish quarterback to play for , the Utah private school run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has embraced his role as an ambassador of Judaism in football.
In the NFL, Bates鈥 story is perhaps one of the most unique in league history.
He grew up about 30 miles northwest of Houston in Tomball, Texas, and played soccer at Central Arkansas before switching sports and transferring twice.
Bates was a kickoff specialist for two seasons at Texas State and for one year at Arkansas, earning All-SEC honors in 2022.
His hometown Texans signed him on Aug. 1, 2023, and waived him 11 days later to send him searching for a new career in the brick business.
鈥淚 was still in training, so I hadn鈥檛 even sold new bricks yet,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 what I was getting ready to do.鈥
Bates, though, wasn鈥檛 ready to hang up his cleats for good and went to an 鈥痵howcase in fall of 2023.
鈥淢y last shot,鈥 he said.
Bates did enough to get signed by the Michigan Panthers and made three field goals from at least 60 yards while playing for them in the United Football League, a team that shares the same home field with the Lions.
Bates believes it was divine intervention.
He has made the most of the opportunity, making game-winning kicks against NFC North rivals鈥 鈥痑苍诲鈥 鈥痑s well as Houston. He earned the NFC special teams player of the month honors in November.
While playing football is his job, it is not Bates鈥 calling.
鈥淚鈥檓 not here to make kicks or miss kicks,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 here to spread the love of Jesus. So, however long he gives me this stage, that鈥檚 what I plan to do.鈥
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AP Sports Writer Charles Odum in Flowery Branch, Georgia, contributed to this report.
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
