Daren Bates facts for kids
![]() Bates with the Tennessee Titans in 2019
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Carolina Panthers | |||||||||
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Position: | Assistant special teams coordinator | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
November 27, 1990 ||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Olive Branch (Olive Branch, Mississippi) |
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College: | Auburn | ||||||||
Undrafted: | 2013 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
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As coach: | |||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Daren Weston Bates (born November 27, 1990) is an American former football player. He used to play as a linebacker. Now, he is an assistant special teams coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.
Daren played college football for Auburn. He joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2013. He also played for the Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans. Before joining the Panthers, he was a coach for the Seattle Seahawks.
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Early Life and High School Football
Daren Bates grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He played football at Christian Brothers High School. During his time there, he was named a top safety in Tennessee twice.
For his senior year, Daren moved to Olive Branch High School in Mississippi. He was a great player, making 90 tackles and four interceptions. He also gained almost 900 yards on offense.
College Football Career
Daren Bates played college football at Auburn University. In 2009, he started every game as a safety. He made 70 tackles that season. He was recognized as one of the best freshmen in the SEC.
In 2010, Daren continued to play well. He helped his team win the BCS National Championship in 2011. He then switched to playing linebacker. In 2011, he led his team with 104 tackles. He continued to be a strong player in 2012.
Professional Football Career
Daren Bates started his professional journey in 2013. He was not chosen in the NFL Draft. However, the St. Louis Rams signed him as a free agent.
St. Louis Rams
Daren quickly became an important player for the St. Louis Rams. He was especially good on special teams. Special teams are units that play during kickoffs, punts, and field goals.
In 2013, he scored his first career touchdown. He returned a fumbled kickoff for a score against the Houston Texans. In 2014, he made an amazing play. He leaped over a player and blocked a field goal attempt. This helped his team recover the ball. In 2015, Daren was chosen as one of the team captains.
Oakland Raiders
In 2016, Daren Bates signed with the Oakland Raiders. He continued to be a strong special teams player for them.
Tennessee Titans (First Time)
Daren joined the Tennessee Titans in 2017. He signed a three-year contract with the team. In his first year with the Titans, he made 16 special teams tackles. This was a career high for him.
In 2018, Daren was named the special teams captain for the Titans. He continued to be a key player in this role.
Houston Texans
In 2020, Daren briefly joined the Houston Texans. He signed with them in August but was later waived.
Tennessee Titans (Second Time)
Later in 2020, Daren returned to the Tennessee Titans. He first joined their practice squad. He was then moved to the active roster for several games. He was fully promoted to the active roster in October 2020.
Atlanta Falcons
In 2021, Daren Bates signed with the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. He was later promoted to their active roster. He was placed on injured reserve for a short time but returned to play in December.