Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates came incredibly close to making history on September 22, 2024. He tried a 67-yard field goal against the Baltimore Ravens. If it had gone in, it would have broken Justin Tucker’s 66-yard NFL record. The kick just missed to the left. Even though he didn’t set the record, Jake quickly became one of the most talked-about players in the NFL this season. Alongside his rise on the field, fans are now curious about his fiancée, Presley Folkerts.
Presley Folkerts is a speech pathologist who works mainly with children. She studied at Texas A&M and Baylor University and built a career helping young patients. She has been Jake’s biggest supporter since their school days. The couple got engaged in July 2024. According to their wedding registry on The Knot, they planned to get married in March 2025 in Hockley, Texas, their hometown. There hasn’t been any confirmed update about the wedding yet.
Jake and Presley’s story goes back almost twenty years. Jake first noticed Presley in fifth grade when she walked into his homeroom class. They became high-school sweethearts and started officially dating in their sophomore year at Tomball High School in Texas. After graduation, they went their separate ways. Presley focused on school, and Jake pursued sports. They reunited in February 2022 at a friend’s engagement party after five years apart. Their bond quickly grew strong again.
Jake often says Presley keeps him grounded, especially during uncertain times in his career. In July 2024, when he proposed, he was still fighting for a spot on the Lions. He had just signed a nonguaranteed contract, which made their engagement photo with the ring even more meaningful.
Jake’s path to the NFL was not easy. He was born in Tomball, Texas, and first excelled in soccer. Later, he switched to football. He played at Central Arkansas, Texas State, and Arkansas, but only as a kickoff specialist. He never attempted a college field goal. After going undrafted, he worked as a brick salesman in Houston. In 2024, he joined the UFL’s Michigan Panthers, taking a big risk. His performance there caught the Lions’ attention. In June 2024, he signed a two-year contract with Detroit. When veteran kicker Michael Badgley got a hamstring injury, Jake stepped in and quickly made a name for himself with long-range kicks.
After his near-record 67-yard kick, Jake has a lot on his plate in his career. At the same time, fans are eager to learn more about his quiet personal life with Presley.
