Ryan Bates

Ryan Bates is an American professional football center and offensive lineman who enters the 2026 offseason as a veteran free agent. He has played in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, and Buffalo Bills.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Ryan William Bates was born on February 14, 1997, in Warminster, Pennsylvania, United States of America. The Center/Offensive Lineman stands 193 cm tall, and his weight was last listed at 139 kg.

He attended Archbishop Wood Catholic High School in Warminster Township, Pennsylvania, where he led his team to consecutive Class AAA state championship victories. Playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2015 to 2018.

He proved to be an indispensable ironman up front, starting 35 total games across three distinct positions (left tackle, right tackle, and left guard. He earned Third-team All-Big Ten honors in consecutive seasons before declaring for the NFL Draft.

Professional Career

Bates went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft but signed as an undrafted free agent with his hometown Philadelphia Eagles.

He was traded to the Buffalo Bills before his rookie regular season began in exchange for edge rusher Eli Harold. His reliable pass protection caught the attention of opposing front offices, prompting the Chicago Bears to sign him to an offer sheet as a restricted free agent in 2022, which Buffalo ultimately matched with a four-year, $17 million contract to lock him in as a primary interior anchor.

In March 2024, the Chicago Bears finally secured Bates, acquiring him from the Bills via a trade in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick. His initial season in Chicago was marred by a severe shoulder injury that landed him on injured reserve in mid-September.

He courageously fought back to be activated in November to bolster the interior line.

Bates maintained his role as a versatile interior reserve throughout the 2025 campaign, providing crucial rotational depth at center and guard as the Bears pushed into the postseason.

Upon the expiration of his contract at the conclusion of the 2025 season, Bates hit the open market as an unrestricted veteran free agent, quickly generating considerable interest—including an official free agency facility visit with the New York Giants in March 2026.

Career Highlights:

• 2017, 2018 – 2× Third-team All-Big Ten