Brenden Bates
Brenden Bates is an American professional football tight end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in.
Early life
Bates was born on October 17, 1999, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Both his parents, his two siblings, and his grandfather each played collegiate sports. He attended Moeller High School in Cincinnati where he played football, basketball, and competed in track and field. In football, he was twice named first-team All-Greater Catholic League and had 17 receptions for 305 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior.Bates was selected for the national team at the International Bowl. He was ranked a four-star recruit and one of the top tight ends nationally. In addition to his pass catching abilities, he was also considered a top blocker; he told the Lexington Herald-Leader that "I take pride in blocking. I just love moving people against their will." He committed to play college football for the Kentucky Wildcats.
College career
As a true freshman at Kentucky in 2018, Bates redshirted, appearing in two games. The following season, he appeared in 13 games on the special teams unit. He played in only six games in 2020 due to injury, making his first career catch that year. In 2021, he was a starter in six games and totaled 11 catches for 70 yards, including his first collegiate touchdown. He recorded 10 receptions for 99 yards and one touchdown during the 2022 season. He returned for a final season in 2023, as all players were given an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his final year, he caught four passes for 89 yards. He finished his collegiate career having recorded 26 catches for 272 yards and two touchdowns, while having started 25 of the 58 games in which he appeared. He was invited to the 2024 Hula Bowl all-star game.Professional career
Chicago Bears
On May 9, 2024, after going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Bates signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. He was a standout performer in the preseason, catching six passes for 100 yards. On August 27, he was waived by the Bears as part of final roster cuts.New York Jets
On August 28, 2024, Bates was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets. On October 17, he was released by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.Cleveland Browns
On December 18, 2024, Bates was signed off the Jets' practice squad to the Cleveland Browns' active roster after Nick Chubb was placed on injured reserve.On August 26, 2025, Bates was named to the initial 53-man roster. On August 27, he was waived by the Browns and re-signed to the practice squad the following day