Jessie Bates comes from a family where his parents went through a divorce, leading to his mother raising him and his brothers single-handedly. In the absence of his father, Theresa, his mother, worked tirelessly at two jobs to support the family financially. Besides emphasizing the importance of academics, she also actively supported her son’s interest in sports.
Bates was taken to his first NFL game by his mother when he was in fifth grade. Remarkably, years later, his journey came full circle as he was drafted into the NFL. Jessie Bates III, born on February 26, 1997, is a renowned American football safety currently playing for the Atlanta Falcons since 2023. His teammates in the Falcons include Desmond Ridder, Jeff Okudah, Kyle Pitts, David Onyemata, and Chris Lindstrom, among others.
The Falcons obtained him through a franchise tag from the Bengals with a one-year contract worth $12.911 million. Subsequently, on March 14, 2023, he was offered a substantial four-year deal amounting to $64.02 million. Bates, a graduate from Wake Forest, was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals as their second-round pick (54th overall) in the 2018 NFL draft. He spent four seasons with the club, initially under Marvin Lewis in 2018 and later with Zac Taylor.
Jessie Bates’s Upbringing Under the Care of His Single Mother, Theresa
The former Bengals player, Jessie Bates, grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, alongside his brothers, raised solely by his single mother, Theresa Trotter (née Ladd). In several interviews, Bates has emphasized his mother’s dedication and sacrifices in raising him and his brothers. Despite holding down two jobs, Theresa endeavored to make time for her children, even if it meant being at home for just 30 minutes before heading out for her second job. According to Jessie, witnessing his mother’s hard work instilled in him strong family and work ethics, ultimately driving his achievements.
His mother took him to his first NFL game between the Bengals and the Ravens when he was in fifth grade. Fast forward a decade, and he transitioned from being a fan to an NFL player himself. Jessie is immensely grateful to his mother for her significant contributions to his NFL success.
Details about Jessie Bates’s Father
The Falcons star, Jessie III, is named after his father, Jessie Bates II. However, his father was largely absent during his formative years, with occasional visits being the extent of their interactions. When Bates was in high school, his biological father relocated to Indianapolis, leading to a gap in their relationship until they reconnected when Bates began college. As reported, Bates II visited him during a Wake Forest game. Not much is known about his father apart from the fact that he played basketball and ran track at Northside High School.
Jessie’s Extended Family: Siblings and Stepfather
Bates III has six siblings, including a half-sibling and three step-siblings – Aaliyah, Von, Donavan, Kameron, and Ariana. He stands at 6 feet 1 inch (2.16 m) and weighs 200 pounds, and has an older sister, Aaliyah Bates (b. 1995), who pursued nursing at Purdue University. Von Collyear Jr., his younger half-brother from his mother’s previous relationship with Von Collyear, was born in November 2007.
Following her separation from Mr. Collyear, Jessie’s mother, Theresa, entered into a relationship with Daryl Trotter (his stepfather), culminating in their marriage on June 30, 2018, after being together for five years. The NFL star shares a close bond with his stepfather and has three step-siblings – Donavan, Kameron, and Ariana. They are all adults, living together in a blended yet affectionate family.
Bates’s Advocacy for Single Mothers
Jessie is deeply passionate about supporting single mothers, having experienced the challenges his own mother faced as a single parent. In collaboration with his mother and management, the NFL athlete established the JB3 Single Mother’s Initiative. Through this initiative, he organizes celebrations for single moms and their children, commencing in 2019 and marking its third annual event in partnership with Bigger Than Sneakers, Inc. In March 2023, Bates pledged to donate $1 million over four years to organizations supporting single mothers in Atlanta and his hometown, Fort Wayne.
