People often wonder what kickers do on the sidelines when they’re not getting ready to kick. The answer? Some really weird, creepy stuff.
At the time, lions kicker Jake Bates wasn’t kicking or preparing to kick. Still, the Monday Night Football cameras found him as he lay on the ground, supported by his elbow, rocking in a rhythmic motion while sticking his tongue out and wearing an expression of extreme joy.
It turns out Bates was lying on a softball to smooth out a knot in his leg. However, that wasn’t evident from ESPN’s camera angle, as no one could see the softball.
The scene drew a laugh from broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 31, 2024
X users were quick to react to the bizarre scene.
draw me like one of your French girls pic.twitter.com/f2niVQ8Pr6
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) December 31, 2024
Live look at Jake Bates -- pic.twitter.com/aCfckcDG7v
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) December 31, 2024
Jake Bates when he gets online tonight…#OnePride pic.twitter.com/SGs61xQshG
— Jenna (@jennavd22) December 31, 2024
Draw Jake like one of your French Kickers #Lions #JakeBates #DETvsSF pic.twitter.com/FNw4mv9bgU
— M (@HowAmINotMyself) December 31, 2024
Dan Campbell: "Send in the field goal unit! ... wait, where's Jake?"
— Anthony Damcott (@AnthonyDamcott) December 31, 2024
Jake Bates' freaky ass: pic.twitter.com/5L0VpK0iV9
MNF cameraman finding Jake Bates on the sideline pic.twitter.com/YhGFbdmIOj
— Michigan Truther (@scumbag_unit) December 31, 2024
Bates drilled a 42-yarder after this clip, so no one can say the stretch was ineffective, as unsettling as it was. Bates also became the Lions single-season all-time franchise leader in points on Monday night.
.@Lions K Jake Bates has established the new single-season franchise record for points scored, passing Jason Hanson's previous record of 134 points in 2012.#OnePride pic.twitter.com/mIB2Fsmwyx
— Detroit Lions PR (@LionsPR) December 31, 2024
However, it is safe to say that despite making history and beating the 49ers, Jake Bates will be remembered more for his special time with his softball than anything else.