Bill Bates
Encyclopedia
William Frederick Bates (born June 6, 1961, in Knoxville, Tennessee
) is a former American football
safety in the National Football League
who spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys
.
in Knoxville, helping lead the Farragut Admirals to the state semi-finals in 1978, in which the Admirals lost to Red Bank by one point. He was all state in football
and basketball
.
He also practiced track and field
.
at the University of Tennessee
, where he was a four year starter, the first two at free safety and the last two at strong safety.
At the end of 1979 he was honored by being named to the the Freshman All-America
team and was the number one punt returner on the team.
He was named to the second team All-SEC
as a junior and senior.
At the University of Tennessee
he was know as the team's hardest hitter.
On August 18, 2005 Bates was inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame http://www.gkshof.org/members.html.
He was also named to the 100 Year All Tennessee Team.
. Although he was selected by the USFL's New Jersey Generals
in their territorial draft
, he decided to signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys
, which was his favorite team growing up.
Bates was a long shot to make the team but his heart and hustle earned him a roster spot on the team and a place in the hearts of all Cowboy fans. From the start he excelled playing special teams, being named “NFC
special teams Player of the Year” as a rookie.
In 1984
he was selected to the Pro Bowl
in just his second year — forcing the NFL to create a first-time roster spot for “special teams” players, becoming the first such player to receive that election, which is now a roster spot on all Pro Bowl
teams. He was also elected All-Pro
that season.
Tom Landry
once said, “If we had 11 players on the field who played as hard as Bill Bates does and did their homework like he does, we’d be almost impossible to beat”.
In 1986
he became a starter at strong safety and remained there until 1988
, after that he was used only in the Nickel defense
packages.
At the end of the 1989 season
, Jimmy Johnson
informed Bates that he was going to be left unprotected on the team’s Plan B free agency
list. And although the Minnesota Vikings
were interested in him, just before the deadline, the Cowboys decided to protect him.
He received the team’s Bob Lilly
Award four consecutive seasons from 1990
to 1994
. This award is selected by a vote of the fans and annually goes to the Cowboy player who displays leadership and character on and off the field.
In 1992
he was lost for the season with a knee injury and after the 1993 season
, he was selected by his teammates to receive the Ed Block Courage Award
for successfully overcoming his injury.
Bates is tied with Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Mark Tuinei
for the most seasons playing in a Cowboys uniform—with 15.
He played for the Cowboys for 15 seasons, earning 3 Super Bowl rings. Upon his retirement after the 1997 season
, he was one of the most beloved Cowboys of all time. Over his 15 year career, Bill had 14 interceptions and 122 return yards.
Bates played in Super Bowl XXVIII
and XXX
(Bates injured his knee early in 1992 season
when the Cowboys played in Super Bowl XXVII
).
Bates spent one year with the Jacksonville Jaguars
as Special Teams Coach in 2001. He was an assistant coach for Nease High School
's football
team, which won the 2005 Florida State Championship. He is currently an assistant coach for Ponte Vedra High School
.
Bates is also a motivational speaker
and runs a cattle ranch in North Dallas.
He and his wife Denise have five children: Dillon, Tanner, Graham, Brianna, and Hunter. Graham, Brianna, and Hunter are triplets, and Graham and Hunter are currently playing college football
at Arkansas State University
and Northwestern University
, respectively.
In 2011 he won Tom Landry
Legend Award.
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
Early years
Bates attended Farragut High SchoolFarragut High School
Farragut High School is a high school located at 11237 Kingston Pike in Farragut, a suburb of Knoxville, Tennessee. It is operated by Knox County Schools, the unified Knox County, Tennessee school district....
in Knoxville, helping lead the Farragut Admirals to the state semi-finals in 1978, in which the Admirals lost to Red Bank by one point. He was all state in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
He also practiced track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
College career
Bates played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, where he was a four year starter, the first two at free safety and the last two at strong safety.
At the end of 1979 he was honored by being named to the the Freshman All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
team and was the number one punt returner on the team.
He was named to the second team All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
as a junior and senior.
At the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
he was know as the team's hardest hitter.
On August 18, 2005 Bates was inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame http://www.gkshof.org/members.html.
He was also named to the 100 Year All Tennessee Team.
Professional career
He wasn't considered big enough or fast enough to play in the NFL so he went undrafted in the 1983 NFL Draft1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
. Although he was selected by the USFL's New Jersey Generals
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
in their territorial draft
USFL Territorial Draft
Besides having a college draft, the United States Football League also practiced an annual Territorial Draft, in which teams from the USFL would have “protected” colleges from their respective states, whom they could draft college football players from....
, he decided to signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, which was his favorite team growing up.
Bates was a long shot to make the team but his heart and hustle earned him a roster spot on the team and a place in the hearts of all Cowboy fans. From the start he excelled playing special teams, being named “NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
special teams Player of the Year” as a rookie.
In 1984
1984 NFL season
The 1984 NFL season was the 65th regular season of the National Football League. The Colts relocated from Baltimore, Maryland to Indianapolis, Indiana....
he was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
in just his second year — forcing the NFL to create a first-time roster spot for “special teams” players, becoming the first such player to receive that election, which is now a roster spot on all Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
teams. He was also elected All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
that season.
Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
once said, “If we had 11 players on the field who played as hard as Bill Bates does and did their homework like he does, we’d be almost impossible to beat”.
In 1986
1986 NFL season
The 1986 NFL season was the 67th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXI when the New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos to win their first league title in 30 years.-Major rule changes:...
he became a starter at strong safety and remained there until 1988
1988 NFL season
The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division....
, after that he was used only in the Nickel defense
Nickel defense
In American football, a nickel defense is a defensive alignment that uses five defensive backs, of whom the fifth is known as a nickelback. Although the modern definition of the term encompasses all formations featuring five defensive backs, the original and still most common form of the nickel...
packages.
At the end of the 1989 season
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
, Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)
James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a...
informed Bates that he was going to be left unprotected on the team’s Plan B free agency
Plan B free agency
The Plan B free agency was a type of free agency that became active in the National Football League in February 1989. Plan B free agency permitted all teams in the NFL to preserve limited rights of no more than 37 total players a season...
list. And although the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
were interested in him, just before the deadline, the Cowboys decided to protect him.
He received the team’s Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly
Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:...
Award four consecutive seasons from 1990
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
to 1994
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
. This award is selected by a vote of the fans and annually goes to the Cowboy player who displays leadership and character on and off the field.
In 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
he was lost for the season with a knee injury and after the 1993 season
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
, he was selected by his teammates to receive the Ed Block Courage Award
Ed Block Courage Award
The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to selected players in the National Football League , who are voted by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a well-liked humanitarian and trainer for the Baltimore Colts, the...
for successfully overcoming his injury.
Bates is tied with Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Mark Tuinei
Mark Tuinei
Mark Pulemau Tuinei was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys...
for the most seasons playing in a Cowboys uniform—with 15.
He played for the Cowboys for 15 seasons, earning 3 Super Bowl rings. Upon his retirement after the 1997 season
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
, he was one of the most beloved Cowboys of all time. Over his 15 year career, Bill had 14 interceptions and 122 return yards.
Bates played in Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII was an American football game played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1993 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football...
and XXX
Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX was an American football game played on January 28, 1996 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona to decide the National Football League champion following the 1995 regular season...
(Bates injured his knee early in 1992 season
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
when the Cowboys played in Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII was a football game played on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1992 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference champion...
).
Personal life
His autobiography is entitled Shoot for the Star.Bates spent one year with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as Special Teams Coach in 2001. He was an assistant coach for Nease High School
Allen D. Nease Senior High School
Allen D. Nease High School is a public high school in the St. Johns County School District, located in Ponte Vedra, Florida that was established in 1981. The school is a member of the International Baccalaureate program. The principal is Mr...
's football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team, which won the 2005 Florida State Championship. He is currently an assistant coach for Ponte Vedra High School
Ponte Vedra High School
Ponte Vedra High School is a public high school in the St. Johns County School District, located in northeast St. Johns County, Florida. The high school was constructed to relieve overcrowding at Allen D. Nease Senior High School.-Overview:...
.
Bates is also a motivational speaker
Motivational speaker
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
and runs a cattle ranch in North Dallas.
He and his wife Denise have five children: Dillon, Tanner, Graham, Brianna, and Hunter. Graham, Brianna, and Hunter are triplets, and Graham and Hunter are currently playing college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
and Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, respectively.
In 2011 he won Tom Landry
Tom Landry
Thomas Wade "Tom" Landry was an American football player and coach. He is ranked as one of the greatest and most innovative coaches in National Football League history, creating many new formations and methods...
Legend Award.