Bill Bates has the kind of origin story NFL fans love.
He was a long shot to make it as a professional football player as an undrafted free agent in 1983.
The Dallas Cowboys took a chance and signed Bates after a successful college career at Tennessee.
It couldn’t have worked out any better as the Cowboys happened to be Bates’s favorite team.
Happy birthday to former #Cowboys safety Bill Bates!!! pic.twitter.com/IckTNbqaLA
— Dem Boyz Nation (@DemBoyzNation) June 6, 2017
Listed as a safety, Bates spent the next 15 years primarily as a special teams demon.
He would retire with three Super Bowl rings and a lifetime of love and respect from Cowboys fans.
This is the story of Bill Bates.
Farragut High Standout
William Frederick Bates was born on June 6, 1961, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Happy Birthday to former Cowboys S Bill Bates!!! 🎉 #CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/tZM6Bpekdp
— ✭Cowboys News✭ (@DemBoyz_News) June 6, 2017
Right from the beginning, Bates loved to play sports including football, basketball, and track.
He loved football the most and that showed by the time he reached Farragut High School in Farragut, Tennessee.
As a freshman, he was named a starter for the Admirals football team and then shined on the basketball court and track later in the year.
“Just had a great time learning how to be an athlete,” Bates recalled in 2015.
Although he was already a big man on campus, Bates’s future changed dramatically before his sophomore year.
“My sophomore year in high school, they brought in Ken Sparks [as the head coach]. He loved the Cowboys because of Tom Landry, and Coach Landry’s witness to the Lord, and his ability through the FCA [Fellowship of Christian Athletes] to change young men’s lives. So he changed the Farragut (Tennessee) Admirals uniforms to the Cowboys uniforms, and so when I was in high school, I had a star on my helmet and No. 40 on my chest,” said Bates.
The star inspired Bates to the point where he became a hitting and special teams machine for Farragut.
“Wearing that star on my helmet,” Bates would say many years later, “I dreamt about playing for the Dallas Cowboys.”
During his prep career, Bates piled up almost 200 tackles, 14 picks, and over 1,000 return yards on special teams.
Bill Bates, Cathy Bender, Mike Caldwell, Cindy Parlow Cone, Todd Helton, Mary Lou Johns, Reggie Johnson, Mike Keith, David Poile, Brandon Rowland, and Tommy Woods.
The Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021 pic.twitter.com/9cvz7jv9b7
— Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (@theTSHF) March 31, 2021
He was also on the field when the Admirals lost the 1978 state semi-final game to Red Bank High School by a single point.
“I can remember being on my hands and knees crying in the end zone,” said Bates.
In 2021, Bates was one of a number of notable athletes inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame.
SEC Recruit
By the time his high school graduation loomed, Bates was already an all-state selection in both football and basketball.
Furthermore, his skills at the safety position led to his ranking as the fourth-best recruit in the entire state.
That led a number of high-profile schools to come knocking at his door.
“Pretty much everybody in the SEC and throughout the country,” said Bates.
Bates narrowed down his choices to UCLA and the Tennessee Volunteers and took a recruiting trip to California.
On his way back home, Bates had an epiphany.
“It [UCLA] was a great school,” said Bates. “I could see myself going there. But, as I was flying back, I thought if I leave home some of the people in Knoxville will burn down my house.”
Almost as soon as he landed, Bates signed with Tennessee, a school located a stone’s throw from his home.
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, sponsored by the @TNLottery Inductee Profile: @Vol_Football and @dallascowboys legend Bill Bateshttps://t.co/H2Ln4VulKW pic.twitter.com/84y0GsyoAh
— Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (@theTSHF) October 12, 2021
When he arrived on the Tennessee campus in late summer of 1979, Bates was determined to be a starter.
After laying down some devastating hits during camp, he was indeed named a starter at free safety as a freshman.
“I think the coaches knew I was the freshman and I was the guy they could pick on. It was a tough time,” said Bates.
Tough time or not, Bates played well during the Vols’ 7-5 season (55 combined tackles, three sacks, a pick, two fumble recoveries), including a loss to Purdue in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
In a late October game against top-ranked Alabama, Bates showed no fear and tallied eight tackles, one sack, and two fumble recoveries.
He was named to the Freshman All-American Team after the season.
Bates Meets Herschel Walker
During the very first game of Bates’s sophomore year, Tennessee faced the University of Georgia and freshman running back Herschel Walker.
The ball was bouncing the Vols way with a 15-2 lead in the third quarter.
Georgia had the ball and advanced to Tennessee’s 16-yard line and Bulldogs quarterback Buck Belue handed off to Walker.
The running back dipped right and then cut back toward the left, straight at Bates who waited near the five-yard line.
Bates expected Walker to try and elude him.
Herschel Walker destroys Bill Bates. pic.twitter.com/9DonzhnZSD
— RobSoundsGood (@RobSoundsGood) February 15, 2021
He did not.
“I looked into Herschel’s eyes and saw this mean, bloody streak,” said Bates in 2015. “And, next thing I know foot print here, foot print here. I roll over and see Herschel Walker score his first collegiate touchdown.”
After Walker bowled over Bates for his first-ever score as a collegian, the Bulldogs continued fighting back and won the contest 16-15.
(Georgia would end up winning the national title that year as well).
The following day, Bates saw a replay of the hit on national television and nearly quit football.
“At halftime of the NFL game I was watching that Sunday, the network showed footage of me getting flattened by Herschel,” said Bates. Mortified, he called home to announce he was giving up football. “Fortunately, my dad talked me out of quitting,” he said. “That one play did more for me than anything in college. I began to lift weights. I got more dedicated.”
Bates Wraps His College Career
Instead of quitting, Bates finished the 1980 season with 43 tackles and an interception, then had 71 tackles and a program-best four picks as a junior in 1981 and was named second-team All-SEC.
That same year, head coach Johnny Majors’ group went 8-4 and beat the Wisconsin Badgers in the Garden State Bowl.
As a senior in 1982, Bates had his best season by bagging 86 tackles, including 61 solo stops, and three interceptions.
40 days until it's Football Time in Tennessee! #40 Bill Bates #VolNation pic.twitter.com/2e5kpDOtkw
— Dale Bright (@dalebright) July 23, 2016
He was named second-team All-SEC again while the Vols went 6-5-1 and lost to Iowa in the Peach Bowl.
During his college career, Bates had 255 total tackles, nine interceptions, and recovered six fumbles.
In addition to his SEC accolades, Bates was named Tennesee’s hardest hitter by his teammates.
Long Shots Sometimes Pay Off the Biggest
Bates was a big shot (figuratively and literally) in college, but NFL scouts didn’t think much of him, especially after running an unimpressive 4.8 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine.
He went undrafted in the 1983 NFL Draft and looked to join the USFL’s New Jersey Generals as a territorial pick.
Just before signing a contract with the Generals, Bates heard from the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys.
Both organizations wanted Bates to try out with them and attempt to make their team as an undrafted free agent.
An invitation from the Cowboys was too good an offer to pass up since Dallas was his favorite team.
Team management seemed like they really wanted Bates as well.
“They said if there were 13 rounds in the draft, Bill Bates would’ve been the 13th round draft pick for the Dallas Cowboys,” said Bates. “Woohoo, that’s so great! My dream’s going to come true. I signed my contract. Didn’t read it, didn’t need to read it. I just knew that my dream was going to come true.”
Not long after arriving in Texas, Bates found out he wasn’t the only long shot in training camp.
“I find out there’s 180 13th-round draft picks for the Dallas Cowboys,” Bates laughed.
Through hard work and determination, Bates made the team to contribute as a special teams player.
Bill Bates. The greatest Special Teams player ever. 15 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/xceo2JuUhK
— USAFVet MAGAveteran ✭ (@USAVet5) September 6, 2019
During the Cowboys’ 12-4 season in 1983, Bates started one game at safety and played linebacker during pass-defense situations.
He had 84 combined tackles, four sacks, one interception, and two fumble recoveries.
On special teams, Bates played lights out and was named the NFL Special Teams Player of the Year along with being selected to the league’s All-Rookie Team.
Bates Shines While the Cowboys Falter
Bates began his second season in 1984 on injured reserve after getting hurt during the preseason.
He recovered well enough to start two games and make his presence known.
A human wrecking ball, Bates set a Cowboys single-season record for defensive backs with five sacks (it was also a career-high).
Additionally, he was named captain of the special teams and had 52 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
When the Cowboys’ 9-7 season ended, Bates was voted to his first and only Pro Bowl.
One of my all-time favorite Dallas Cowboys. Bill Bates. Can anyone name the other?#CowboysNation #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/bPdGreTjZ3
— Jeff Kirk (@JeffreyNKirk) June 3, 2017
In 1985, Dallas went 10-6 but lost in the divisional playoffs to the LA Rams.
After ‘85, the Cowboys started to go downhill fast.
Two seven-win seasons in 1986 and 1987 led to three wins in 1988.
Head Coach Tom Landry, who nicknamed Bates “Real Kill,” saw his safety start 42 games between 1986 and 1988 (when he racked up a career-best 124 tackles).
Then, shortly after the ‘88 season ended, the team was sold to Arkansas businessman Jerry Jones.
Jones then fired Landry and hired his former college teammate Jimmy Johnson as head coach.
Dallas Rebuilds Under Johnson
Johnson and Jones wanted to put America’s Team back on top and the first order of business was to clean house.
Bates knew his job was on the line and that he needed to impress the new coach.
Bill Bates days till Cowboys season pic.twitter.com/uFuBlkKL
— Taylor Trammell (@taylorttrammell) July 27, 2012
So, he did the unthinkable and lit up his teammate, Herschel Walker.
This was the same Walker that ran over Bates in college and became his Dallas teammate in 1986.
“There I am out there in the first practice with Herschel, and we’re in helmets only,” Bates explained. “I was trying to kill Herschel. Jimmy started screaming, ‘Wait a second! We’re not tackling! We’re not tackling!’ I wanted Jimmy to know that I was tough and remembered it. I just vowed after that play [in college] that I would work my tail off to never let it happen again,” Bates said. “It pushed me to be better and stronger so it wouldn’t happen again.”
Bates would stick around while Dallas selected Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, Mark Stepnoski, and Tony Tolbert in the 1989 NFL Draft.
The Cowboys won just once that year, their worst since zero-wins in 1960, the team’s inaugural season.
#Raiders AL DAVIS with Cowboys S Bill Bates (1995) pic.twitter.com/0o8crWaOW1
— AFL Godfather 🏴☠️👓🏈🔥 (@NFLMAVERICK) December 12, 2017
Emmitt Smith and Kenneth Gant came aboard in 1990 and Dallas won seven times.
Bates Misses Super Bowl XXVII
While Bates played for Johnson, he would never again start a game at safety.
However, he continued to ply his trade on special teams and impressed his teammates with his hard-nosed play.
“I remember coming to the sideline once,” teammate Kenny Gant is quoted as saying in Jeff Pearlman’s 2009 book about the history of the Cowboys. “Bill had broken his wrist and the trainers told him, ‘Game’s over.’ Bill said, ‘No, tape it up.’ As a young guy coming in, I never saw a player who cared less about his body.”
Not only did Bates win over his young teammates, but he was also a favorite of notable media members.
“Every game starts with a kick,” John Madden once said. “With Bill Bates on the field, every game begins with a bang!”
After Dallas returned to the playoffs in 1991 the team reached the Super Bowl in 1992.
Happy Birthday to #Cowboys legend Bill Bates. We hope you have a great day pic.twitter.com/6UKpfBapBa
— UK Cowboys Fans (@UKCowboysFans) June 6, 2014
It was the franchise’s first appearance in the NFL’s biggest game since 1978.
Unfortunately, Bates was not present for the game because he tore his ACL during the season and missed the opportunity to play in Super Bowl XXVII against the Bills.
It turned out that Buffalo would be no match against Dallas and the ‘Boys won easily, 52-17.
“That night after that first 1992 (Super Bowl) game,” Bates said, “I hugged the trophy until I had to give it up because you don’t know if you’re ever going to go back again.”
Bates Plays in Two Super Bowls
There was no need for Bates to worry that he missed his shot to play in a world championship.
The Cowboys were in the midst of a dynasty and returned to the Super Bowl in 1993 and 1995.
Two holdovers from the Landry ERA that played a big part in 3 Super Bowl Championships in the 90’s. Defensive standouts Bill Bates and Jim Jeffcoat. #90sCowboys #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/EC4fIinVvz
— 90’s Dallas Cowboys (@90s_cowboys) January 22, 2023
Along the way, Bates continued chasing down opposing return men like a rabid dog.
“On kickoffs and punts,” Pearlman described, “Bates would dart down the field like a bull after a red cloth, charging through blockers, battering over bigger players, single-minded in his determination to destroy the ball carrier.”
Before Super Bowl XXVIII, Bates was named a captain and called the coin toss.
“We want the ball!” Bates squealed when the coin landed tail-side up. “We want the ball! We want the ball!”
Dallas won that day as well as two years later when they beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX.
By then, Bates had played for over a decade but was still called an overachiever.
“How can somebody overachieve for 13 years?” said legendary Dallas special teams coach Joe Avezzano. “At some point you have to acknowledge he had the skill to last that long.”
Bates Calls it a Career
In 1996 and 1997, Bates continued to plug away while playing for the league minimum.
The years of blasting ball carriers had taken its toll and he had all of 15 combined tackles during that two-year span.
Bates also had one sack during the 1997 season, his last in the NFL.
Bill Bates – Former Dallas Cowboys Safety & 3-time Super Bowl Champ confirmed as a Keynote speaker for #Insights2017 https://t.co/4sPH2cYbWH pic.twitter.com/t8VUaPIlhG
— Insights 2017 (@Insights_Con) October 28, 2016
Once the year ended, he hung up his cleats for good and his 15 seasons were tied with Ed “Too Tall” Jones and Mark Tuinei for most seasons with the Cowboys.
During his career, Bates had 676 total tackles, 18 sacks, seven fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and 14 interceptions.
He still remains Dallas’ all-time leader in special teams tackles.
Bates was a one-time Pro Bowler and received the organization’s Bob Lilly Award four times as voted on by Dallas fans for the player who shows character both on and off the field.
Bates also received the Ed Block Courage Award for returning from his 1992 injury in 1993 and leading the Cowboys in special teams tackles with 25.
“It was a battle for me every day because nobody expected me to be on the team,” Bates said in 2013. “And I just said, ‘Hey, while I’m here with the Cowboys, I don’t know how long it’s going to be: another game, another day, whatever. I’m going to get out and see if this is as good as I can be.’ I looked at every day like it might be my last.”
Staying Close to the Game in Retirement
Bates didn’t stray far from the Dallas organization after retiring.
Under head coaches Chan Gailey and Dave Campo, he served as an assistant and then became a special teams coach in Jacksonville in 2003 for former teammate Jack Del Rio.
He then switched to the high school ranks to coach his sons’ prep teams including three years at Nease High School in Florida.
@finebaum did you know… Bill Bates was assistant coach at Nease High School in Florida and won state title. Young man by name of Tim Tebow was on that team.
— Baxter Gaynor (@Memphis_Vol) September 6, 2018
While at Nease, Bates had the opportunity to coach a special player.
“This quarterback named Tim Tebow happened to be on the team and it was pretty awesome for me to coach my boys,” Bates said. “They were on a pretty good football team there.”
From 2009-2012, Bates was also the coach for Ponte Vedra High School in Florida.
Unfortunately, in 2020, Bates began showing signs of dementia brought on by his career as a heat-seeking missile.
Bates currently lives in Florida with his wife, Denise.
The couple have five athletic children and their youngest, Dillon, was a linebacker for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2014-2018.
References
https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2015/7/6/8904093/a-special-kind-of-cowboy
https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-alumni-catching-up-with-safety-bill-bates-338286
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BateBi00.htm
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