NFL kicker Jake Bates was recently asked to on his most unlikely journey from selling bricks to playing professional football where he makes game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. I mean, how, exactly, does one get into the business of selling bricks? That’s a bit of a strange calling, but then again, God uses all jobs — that aren’t sinful in nature — as a means of running the world through us, so everything has value. Bates took the opportunity to discuss the love of Jesus Christ during a prime-time interview that aired on NBC after he helped secure a victory for the Lions over Texas with a 52-yard field goal.
He said that “This doesn’t happen without Jesus and by this, I mean any of this, like, living doesn’t happen without Jesus dying on the cross…He put us on a stage to glorify his name.” C.J. Stroud, the Houston quarterback, is a major inspiration for the kicker. “What he’s been able to do in the media and spreading Jesus’ love has been awesome to see,” Bates went on to say according to The Christian Tribune.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh tarted 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. “It’s a big football week, all right? It’s also a big life week,” the Raven’s Coach said. “It’s a big spiritual week.” Atlanta quarterback Kirk Cousin shas professed his faith publicly, dating back to his college years at Michigan State and continuing in the NFL with Washington, Minnesota and the Falcons. “We all have a platform,” Cousins stated earlier this month. “We 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.
In the NFL, Bates’ story is perhaps one of the most unique. He grew up in Tomball, Texas, and played soccer at Central Arkansas before switching sports and transferring twice. Bates specialized in kickoffs for two seasons at Texas State and for one year at Arkansas, earning All-SEC honors in 2022.The Texans signed him in 2023, but waived him 11 days later to send him searching for a new career in the brick business.
The Lions kicker then said “I was still in training, so I hadn’t even sold new bricks yet, but that’s what I was getting ready to do.” However he went to on to do an XFL showcase in fall of 2023.“ My last shot,” is how he explained it. Bates was signed by the Michigan Panthers and made three field goals from at least 60 yards. The Panthers play in the United Football League, a team that shares the same home field with the Lions.
Bates explained during the interview that football is what puts food on the table, but it’s not what he’s really called to do, saying, “I’m not here to make kicks or miss kicks,” he said. “I think I’m here to spread the love of Jesus. So, however long he gives me this stage, that’s what I plan to do.”
The report then notes how the NFL caught a lot of heat for forcing players to play on Christmas Day. Popular quarter back for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes, was none too happy with losing two holidays back-to-back.
“It’s not a good feeling,” Mahomes told reporters on Wednesday. “You never want to play this amount of games in this short of time. It’s not great for your body. But, at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.”
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“All you can do is focus on the game. The practice you have that day,” Mahomes continued during the interview. “I try to prepare my body all year long for this stretch. That’s tailoring my workouts, tailoring how you practice and prepare. The star quarterback believes that “And the coaches do a great job of taking care of us on the practice field. We practice as hard as anybody, but they know how to dial it back when needed.”