Tyler Bass

BIOGRAPHY

Tyler Royce Bass, a native of South Carolina, was born on February 14, 1997. From a young age, he displayed a keen interest in sports. An American professional footballer known for his extraordinary placekicker skills, Bass has successfully been playing for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) since his professional debut in 2020.

Bass’s affinity for soccer came to the fore while he was a student at Dutch Fork High School, located in Irmo, South Carolina. His deep-seated passion for the beautiful game, supplemented by his exceptional kicking skills, caught the attention of his grandmother. Recognizing his potential, she encouraged him to audition for a place on the school’s football team.

Heeding her advice, Bass showcased his kicking prowess, securing a spot on the school’s football team. Little did he realize that this decision would pave the way for an illustrious career in professional American football. By the tail end of his senior year in high school, Bass’s hard work and profound dedication to the sport were recognized when he was awarded the prestigious Chris Sailer award, reserved for the best high school football kicker of the year.

This award only solidified Bass’s commitment to football and led him to commit to fulfill his collegiate career at Georgia Southern University on January 31, 2015. Here, he redshirted his freshman year, gaining greater football knowledge and honing his craft without compromising his eligibility to play for an extended period of time. His dedication saw him improve his skills significantly by his redshirt junior year when he impressively made 19 of 21 field goal attempts and all 45 extra point attempts. In his final game at Georgia Southern, Bass initiated a unique ritual of wearing eye black under one eye as a tribute to his grandmother. His unwavering commitment continued into the 2020 Senior Bowl, where Bass was successful in making 2 field goals and all four extra point attempts.

The Buffalo Bills team was certainly not immune to the impressive strides Bass had been making in his football career. Steady and determined under pressure, he caught the eye of the Buffalo team which selected him in the sixth round, 188th overall, in the 2020 NFL draft, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the unprecedented challenges, Bills special teams coordinator Heath Farwell ensured he was present in Georgia to witness Bass’s pre-draft workout.

Following his selection, Bass signed a four-year contract valued at $3.475 million with the Bills on May 7, 2020. His performance thereafter grabbed national attention, with his trendsetting practice videos displaying his powerful leg strength – by kicking a 50-yard field goal without taking a single step towards the ball, and a 60-yard field goal with a single step.

Such formidable performances ensured the Bills retained him over incumbent placekicker Stephen Hauschka, and Bass soon secured the starting position. With the eagerness to train intensively, Bass underwent weekly training sessions in Birmingham, Alabama – a place that was a two-and-a-half-hour drive away from his home.

Bass’s professional debut against the New York Jets on September 13, 2020, ended with him successfully completing all three of his extra point attempts. However, his performance on the field goal was met with controversy when one of his attempts from 38 yards out, that seemingly cleared the upright, was discounted. Despite the setback, Bass remained resilient and shortly after, connected from 22 and 19 yards.

The journey of professional football doesn’t come without its fair share of highs and lows. One of Bass’s indicative ‘high’ performance was when he completed 6 of 8 field goal attempts, including a career-long 53-yard attempt, thereby scoring the only points for Buffalo in a game that ended with their victory at 18–10.

However, not all games were triumphant, but Bass took every challenge as an opportunity to further his skills and be resilient. One of the few instances was the Divisional Round of the 2023–24 NFL playoffs versus the Kansas City Chiefs. The playoff had a bitter-sweet end as Bass missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal attempt in the final two minutes of the game, thereby leading to Buffalo’s playoff elimination. This kick drew comparisons to a previously infamous Bills kick known as Wide Right. Post this game, Bass took a brief break from social media, following a barrage of death threats and harassment from football fans.

Despite these setbacks, Bass’s career was marked with numerous accolades, including being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month on several occasions, setting franchise records for the most points in a single season, and signing a four-year, $21 million extension with the Bills in 2023.

Throughout his career, Bass faced adversity and highs with equal parts grace and resilience. His career is a testament to his undying love for the sport, unwavering determination, and the inspiring role of his grandmother in his life’s trajectory.