Lions Kicker Glorifies God After Nailing Game-Winning Field Goal

In the National Football League’s Sunday night finale, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates used his platform to glorify God after nailing the game-winning field goal during the team’s matchup against the Houston Texans.

“I think it just shows how good the Lord is. He’s so faithful,” Bates said in his post-game interview.

The Lions’ new kicker was instrumental in Detroit’s second-half comeback against a red-hot Texans team. Detroit was trailing 23-7 at halftime, with quarterback Jared Goff struggling against an astute Houston defense. (Goff threw five interceptions during the game).

The Lions came roaring back after halftime, however. Their offense scored two touchdowns across the final two quarters, while the defense kept the Texans’ offense at bay the rest of the game.

Trailing 23-20 with five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Lions sent out Bates to attempt a 58-yard field goal. The Detroit kicker drilled it through the uprights, skimming past the right goal post and tying the game, 23-23.

The Lions defense subsequently forced the Texans to settle for a 58-yard field goal attempt, which they missed, giving Goff and the offense one final try to win the game. Starting near midfield, the Detroit quarterback moved his team into field-goal range with relative ease, forcing Houston to burn its timeouts and taking the clock down to the game’s final seconds.

Leaving it all on the field, Lions head coach Dan Campbell once again placed his trust in Bates to attempt a 52-yard field goal to win the game. The Detroit kicker did exactly that, sending the ball skimming past the left post to give his team its eighth dub of the season.

Speaking with NBC after his game-winning performance, Bates — who was a brick salesman as recently as last year — utilized his platform to elevate Jesus Christ and expressed optimism that others would follow Him by learning about his story.

“If anything, I just hope people … can see Jesus through my story,” Bates said. “That’s what I think I’m here to do, is not make or miss or be a good kicker or a bad kicker but spread the love of Jesus. Hopefully I’m able to do that on the stage I’m given.”

The Lions kicker isn’t the only NFL player to openly express his Christian faith in post-game interviews.

Texans quarterback CJ Stroud has regularly praised God while speaking to members of the sports media. During a press conference earlier this year, he revealed that other NFL players have reached out to thank him for mentioning Christ when given a microphone.

“I’ve had a lot of great people who have reached out, and even guys after games, who just talk about how I mention God and Christ. I always tell people that it’s not me, it’s Him,” Stroud said. “There’s nothing I can do to ever repay what the Lord has done in my life, and I don’t want to, I just want to act in what He’s calling me to do.”

NBC faced well-deserved backlash after the outlet got caught seemingly editing out Stroud’s mention of his faith in an interview posted on X after Houston defeated the Cleveland Browns in the 2023-2024 playoffs earlier this year.

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is also among those who have used their public platforms to express their Christian faith. The Chiefs player evoked the ire of angry leftists after encouraging graduating students at a commencement ceremony earlier this year to “get married and start a family.”

“I don’t care if you have a successful career,” he added. “In the end, no matter how much money you attain, none of it will matter if you are alone and devoid of purpose.”